Moncton's Shakespeare in the Park changes location with As You Like It
After last year’s COVID-19 related hiatus, Hubcity Theatre is pleased to return to the outdoor stage with one of Shakespeare’s comedies, As You Like It, being performed, for the first time, in Centennial Park from July 23 - 25 and 29 - 31 at 6:00 pm.
“As You Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s most prolific lines: ‘All the World’s a Stage,’ says Hubcity Theatre’s artistic director JB Vanier. “The best thing about the stage is the fact that we get to play, something we don't always get enough time to do. We felt it was important to bring people together to have fun this year and to have the chance for our performers and our audience to play. This play is filled with silly laughs and over-the-top nonsense, so it’s sure to delight and entertain audiences.”
The production, directed by Vanier, stars Teagan Anderson Leger as Rosalind and Samuel Grove as Orlando.
“Taking on the role of Rosalind has been such an utter delight,” Anderson Leger says. “She is a resilient and spirited heroine - full of wit, imagination, and complexity. She explores the world around her with humour and joy, and a heart full of love. Isn’t that what life should be about?”
As for Grove, he says playing Orlando is fun. “Being the underdog hero who is a little too full of himself is something I haven't done in a long time, and it’s fun to see how much he develops as a character over the course of the show,” Grove says.
This year, attendees can purchase a preferred ticket until the day before the performance they wish to attend. A preferred ticket ensures a reserved seat in the rows closest to the performance. Preferred seating will not be available the day of a performance and must be reserved ahead of time via Eventbrite.
As usual, audience members should come prepared for an outdoor setting with a chair or blanket, bug spray, sunscreen, a hat and dressed for the weather. Chairs won’t be provided due to COVID precautions. In addition, the COVID plan includes having seating areas spaced six feet apart, groups of three can be seated together. Masks will be required when not seated.
Shakespeare in the Park 2020 Cancelled
“If this were play'd upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction."
Twelfth Night, III:4
It is with a sad heart that we make this announcement today. While our show dates, normally scheduled for the end of July, may have very well fallen into a period of time where public gatherings were allowed again, the nature of our work requires an extensive amount of rehearsal that we likely would not have had the time to take on. We normally begin our rehearsals by mid-May and by the estimates of all the experts, larger gatherings will likely not be able to take place by then prohibiting us from rehearsing.
Shakespeare in the Park has been a mainstay of the Moncton summer festival experience ever since it debuted in 2007. We’ve received thousands upon thousands of Monctonians over the years and it has been our great pleasure to share these seminal and timeless works with our community. Ultimately, we decided to give up our dates to other organizations and events in the city that may be able to better use that time to bring joy to the citizens of our fine community.
But, that does not mean that Hubcity will be absent from the summer once we can all gather as a community again. We’re working on developing a variety of smaller events that we hope to put on across the city to add a bit of theatre to our city as it slowly comes back to life. Theatre is a gathering place where we commune with our hearts and our communities and that will be so very welcome when we can gather again.
In addition, Shakespeare may yet go on in its traditional form but at a later date. Should that be the case, we will be glad to share with you all to enjoy Shakespeare’s beautiful language and entertaining characters.
Hubcity Theatre Board of Directors