Laughable tragedy strikes Hiawatha Park

Ottawa’s A Company of Fools theatre group is bringing its special version of Romeo and Juliet to Hiawatha Park this summer.

A summer of firsts for the company sees Al Connors make his directorial debut, taking on the challenge of entertaining outdoor audiences with the group’s first performance of a tragedy.

Despite a tragic ending to the fabled tale, Connors promises a lively, humorous show. “Even though there is a sad ending we hope people will leave the park with a smile on their face,” says Connors, a graduate of Orléans’ Cairine Wilson Secondary School. “To get a tragedy to work for you, the audience has to love your characters and what better way to do that than to get the audience laughing and involved.”

To that end, each show will begin with audiences split in half with rival sides taking on the roles of Montagues and Capulets. “We’re trying to egg on each group and get a little audience rivalry,” he adds.

Connors, a University of Ottawa theatre graduate who’s worked with Third Wall Theatre and been a Company of Fools member since 2002, says the shift to tragedy came because the company was starting to run out of comedies.

Crowds will be treated to a pared-down production of the tragedy, explains Connors. Characters have been cut from the story, leaving a script for a five-person cast where actors take on numerous roles. “Romeo and Juliet both have single parents now,” says Connors. “A lot of the servants have been cut, and there will be costume changes on stage and actors using different voices.”

The role changes are all part of the light-hearted approach and, although they may be difficult and at times confusing, Connors concedes he also expects them to add to the laughter. “Stuff like that lends itself to the comedy because some of the transformations really are a bit silly,” he says.

For Connors and the show’s cast – all veteran improv performers – the relaxed nature of the show, changing personas, dealing with unpredictable events and the potential for calamity are exactly what make the summer shows truly enjoyable. “There is nothing more awkward, but fun, than dealing with accidents and the unknown,” says Connors. “We’ve had squirrels fall out of trees right on stage. It’s great!”

One unpredictable element the theatre troupe is not laughing about is the weather.

Despite having only two shows cancelled in the past eight years, Connors admits he’s been checking the weather obsessively, concerned that Ottawa’s gloomier-than-usual weather this year may just interrupt their season. He stresses, though, that as long as there is an audience there’ll be a performance. “The show goes on as long as the audience can stick around.” A Company of Fools’ performances of Romeo and Juliet extend all summer from July 3 – Aug. 17 in parks throughout the city. The company brings the show to Hiawatha Park on July 25 and 26. Shows start at 7 p.m. -- By David May