Last night Clark Park hosted the first performance of the “Merry Wives of Windsor” as part of the annual summer “Shakespeare in Clark Park.” It was great – see the review below written by Kelly Lawler. Also, please check out our photos of the merry performers and the crowd watching them. Not only is Shakespeare in Clark Park a great chance to connect with friends and neighbors and see a great show, it’s also a great place to people-watch.
If they weren’t using Shakespearean language, a passerby might mistake the performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor for a party or a dance or a barbecue in Clark Park’s bowl. And indeed, everyone has fun with the play; the actors, the musicians, and the audience all revel in the ridiculousness and hilarity. And the result is a very pleasant theater experience.
The play, one of Shakespeare’s less-famous comedies, follows several wives and lovers through an absurd series of events. Falstaff, a knight, is in debt and decides to alleviate this problem by seducing the wives of two rich merchants, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page. Meanwhile, Mistress Page’s daughter, Anne, is in love with Fenton, but her father wants her to marry Slender and her mother wants her to marry Dr. Caius. Hilarity ensues.
Merry Wives takes place in Elizabethan Windsor in England, but as is the norm with Shakespeare productions now, it is put in a different setting. The director, Rebecca Wright, chose to place it in an old West setting, complete with cowboy hats and boots and country music. It works well in an outdoor performance like this, where the physical space is so large and so distinct that the actors and the set and the props must also be large and hammy to compensate. If the play were inside a normal theater it might have seemed cheesy, but instead it worked well in the park. The production was at its best when it utilized the space it was in. Not being able to have a traditional “back stage” area the actors were forced to stay in character for the whole performance, even when not in the scene. But this allowed things like young lovers Fenton and Anne to wander off and have a romantic talk under a distant tree.
The production also utilized music very well. A three piece band accompanied much of the show, complete with a banjo and a real washtub-bass. Original songs were written for the production, which was more of a musical than other Shakespeare, but worked really well both with the absurd story of Merry Wives, and with the Western setting. It was also great for the audience who got to clap along to the beat, and join in the party-like atmosphere of the play.
All in all the performance is a lot of fun. The story is easy to follow and quite funny. With a picnic blanket and basket, Shakespeare in Clark Park is a really lovely way to spend a summer evening.
– Kelly Lawler
If you missed last night’s show, there are four more left. For more information, go here.
The neighborhood watch groups 48th Street Neighborsand Me-Lo Town Watch will jointly host another “porch hop” on August 4 as a way for neighbors to get to know each other better.
The hop will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. rain or shine. So far 11 porches spread across both sides of Baltimore Avenue are on the itinerary (see the map below). Snacks and drinks will likely be provided on each porch, but it never hurts to bring along some of your own, including some wine or beer.
The legendary bicycle store at 4311 Lancaster Avenue is reopening under new ownership and inviting folks to their Grand Reopening Extravaganza, titled Dances with Wolves, this Saturday, July 28, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.Wolff Cycles store was recently purchased by West Philly’s Firehouse Bicycles (50th & Baltimore) and renamed to Wolf Cycles (with 50% less F). The shop has been in operation since the 1930’s.
The grand reopening celebration is free and open to the public. It will feature workshops, a bike ride, catered food and beer and an outdoor movie screening. Also there will be music by live DJ’s and raffle all day. Costumes are encouraged. Here are more details:
11 a.m. – Doors open
2 p.m. – Riding Basics Class hosted by the Bicycle Coalition, for riders 16+
For those who feel nervous navigating Philly’s aggressive drivers and trolley tracks.
3:30 p.m. – West Fairmount Park Public Art Ride
Check out public art and enjoy your wheels. For all ages, but under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. The ride is approximately 5 miles. Helmets required.
5:30 p.m. – Legal Rights Workshop hosted by the National Lawyers Guild
Learn your rights and responsibilities as a bicyclist involved in a crash.
7 p.m. – Catered Food and Keg of Beer
Food will be provided, but if you want beer, you’ll have to buy a pint glass (only $5).
8:30 p.m. – Outdoor Screening of the movie “RAD”
If weather allows. RAD tells a fantastic fable of an unflappable BMX biker fighting the factory rider to win on the Helltrack.
For more information go to: www.firehousebicycles.com, email firehousebicycles@gmail.com or call 215 222 2171.
Trust us when we tell you that the wait for the re-opening of Locust Moon Comics (Facebook page) in its new digs on 40th Street is well worth the wait.
Check it out for yourself. Locust Moon’s new shop, which includes a great gallery space, quietly opened this week at 34 S. 40th Street. The shop’s grand opening – complete with comic and graphic novel decadence – is tomorrow. Do yourself a favor and check it out – even if you’re not into comics (yet).
Owners Josh O’Neil and Chris Stevens are comics creators themselves and their passion comes through in the renovation of the new space. Original artwork lines the walls and the bookshelves are packed with comics, graphic novels and awesome vintage and new action figures. They also have board games and movies for rent and sale. The shop moved from their old site – the old Urban Outfitters building on Locust Street near 40th – last Fall.
In addition to the main retail space, the new Locust Moon also includes a gallery with original works that will double as a movie screening room complete with a ceiling mounted projection system.
The shop’s hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Oh, and by the way, you have to see their fish tank.
Here are the details on the grand opening and a tantalizing invitation from their Facebook page:
“Expect food, drinks, art, comix, and a super-sexy anything-goes atmosphere. Chris will dress as Mr. Peanut and perform a lengthy, emotionally complex tap routine. Other stuff too. Don’t miss it.”
Locust Moon Comics 34 S. 40th St. 7:30 p.m.
Here is a great video about the renovation of the new shop (sent by an anonymous e-mailer):
Last night’s Dollar Stroll on Baltimore Avenue drew the now-customary big crowd. Here are some photos from the event. Click on any of the images below to start a slide show.
Here’s some stuff to do this weekend for kids and adults alike. For more upcoming local events, visit our Happenings page.
Saturday, July 21, 11:30-3 p.m., White Rock Baptist Church (5240 Chestnut St.) – Community Science Carnival
The First Annual Community Science Carnival is organized by the Science Education Academy, a community partnership between the White Rock Baptist Church and the Ernest E Just Biomedical Society at the University of Pennsylvania. Children from grades K-6 are invited to be Curious Scientific Investigators and assist Penn graduate students and Post-doctoral fellows with scientific experiments. Children will learn about microbes, how to make batteries with potatoes, how planes fly and how to solve mysteries using chemistry! Parents are welcome too – there will be a workshop on how to help your children with science fair projects. See the flyer for details. This is a free event and open to the public. RSVP is not required but appreciated – email sea.philly2008@gmail.com or call 215-882-9797.
Saturday, noon-6 p.m., Saunders Park (39th & Powelton Ave.) – Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Community Arts Festival
Also this Saturday, don’t miss the Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Community Arts Festival taking place at Saunders Park in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia. Doc Gibbs & Friends, Glenn Bryan & Reference Point and Planet Jazz will perform. Also there will be free family activities, a moon bounce, crafts, a vendor market and more. We also hear that a shredder truck will make a stop at the park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., so bring all that used paper cluttering your house and then enjoy some great music. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.
Sunday, July 22, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) – Kripalu Yoga Preview Class
Kripalu Yoga classes begin at The Rotunda in August and a free preview class is being held this Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kripalu Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga using standard yoga poses, inner focus, breathwork, meditation and relaxation. For more information, contact Katie Bonier at kripaluyogaphilly@gmail.com or visit www.therotunda.org.
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