"Two See or Not Two See": Free Outdoor Shakespeare in Boston & Chelsea

Othello, Boston Common, 2010

Cyrano, O'Malley Park, 2010

Now Thru SUN 7/31

8pm to 10:30pm
"Hamlet": Apollinaire in the Park
at Port Park, 99 Marginal St, Chelsea
FREE

Wednesdays to Sundays -- 8pm

"Bring Lawn Chairs or Blankets and come ready to move with the action!"

Now Thru SUN 8/7

Various Times
Shakespeare on the Common: "Love's Labour's Lost"
at Parkman Bandstand, about 165 Tremont St, Boston (Boston Common)
FREE

Tuesdays to Saturdays -- 8pm
Sundays -- 7pm
Saturday 8/6: Extra Matinee -- 3pm

We usually get only one free Shakespeare production per hot, humid Boston summer. The Bard asked whether one can desire too much of a good thing, but we can handle a double-shot of classic theatre al fresco.

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has been performing in Boston Common for two decades. There is high production value with big, stylized sets and actors who have appeared on Broadway and TV. Although "Love's Labour's Lost" is not one of the most accessible comedies in the body of work, this is always a delightful way to sit in the park for a couple hours.

On the other hand, I watched Apollinaire's thoroughly entertaining version of "Cyrano" a few years back in a different Chelsea park. The actors were wearing period costumes, but it was a bare-bones affair. I am seriously considering hopping on the #111 bus to catch their inventive approach to the travails of our favorite moody Danish prince. Instead of set changes, the audience will watch the drama move to 10 different locations in the park.

Goldstar Pick o' the Week -- Romeo & Juliet

(Original photo from Wikipedia)

The Goldstar people approached me to spread the word about their website, so I decided to share one of their deals now and then. I had already used their service, so I know it works.

They offer various 50% (or more) discounts to a variety of events like theater, comedy, music, etc.

Yes, you have to register. And they send emails on a regular basis -- but you can read/delete them as you like. I suggest reading them more often than not, because some early-bird discounts provide almost free admission.

Yes, they're "free" tickets have service charges so it's not really free -- but I have and will try to represent the true costs.

I screwed up and meant to post this earlier in the day. My bad.

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FRI 8/10 (thru SAT 8/25)

Various Times
"Romeo and Juliet"
at Plaza Theatre, Boston Center for Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)
$4 or $7 to $16 Goldstar price (vs $24)

A few years ago I saw a performance of "Romeo and Juliet" where the characters spoke the Bard's original words yet they were modern clothes as if they were people like you or I. The play made more sense than any other time I've seen it live or on screen.

Based on the promotional photo, it could be the same kind of situation with a better cast and director.

Unfortunately, the cheapest tickets are only available today. (You could've seen it early if you were already on their mailing list.

Goldstar tickets to the preview on FRI 8/10 (8pm) are $4 or $9 versus the full price of $12.

When the full price is $24, they are offering $7 tickets today only -- then $16 to the following dates:

SAT 8/11 -- 8pm
THUR 8/16 -- 7:30pm
FRI 8/17 -- 8pm
SAT 8/18 -- 8pm
THUR 8/23 -- 7:30pm
FRI 8/24 -- 8pm
SAT 8/25 -- 8pm

It's not free Shakespeare in the Common and we all know the ending, yet we're still open to seeing new versions...

TUES 7/5: Shakespeare & Songs

Does anyone want to go out tonight? Maybe to avoid turning on the air conditioner???

At least the Shakespeare listing also lists future gigs...

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TUES 7/5

6pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at Hardiman Playground, about 350 Faneuil St, Brighton (Oak Sq)
FREE

One of the best perennial cheap thrills in town has to be "Shakespeare on the Common" every summer since 1996.

In association with the professional production of "All's Well That Ends Well" from WED 7/27 to SUN 8/14, students from the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's Summer Academy Apprenticeship are going to different parks and performing a compilation of Shakespeare sonnets and scenes on the theme of love.

This should be a different program if you caught one of their performances last year. On some nights, New England Conservatory students and alumni are doing "A Shakespearean Cabaret" which features songs that were inspired by the Bard's works (e.g. Broadway standards).

The rest of the schedule:

FRI 7/8

3pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at Christopher Columbus Park, Boston (North End/Waterfront)

SUN 7/10

6pm
"A Shakespearean Cabaret"
at Jamaica Pond, about 507 Jamaicaway, Boston

FRI 7/15

6pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at Jeep Jones Playground, about 55 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury (near Roxbury Crossing T)

TUES 7/19

6pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at South Street Mall & Courts, about 54 South St, Jamaica Plain

SUN 7/24

6:15pm
"A Shakespearean Cabaret" & "Shakespeare On Love"
at Newton Center Green, about 1220 Centre St, Newton

TUES 7/26

6pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at O'Day Park, 85 W. Newton St, Boston (South End)

SUN 7/31

5pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at Christopher Columbus Park, Boston (North End/Waterfront)

SAT 8/6

2pm
"A Shakespearean Cabaret" & "Shakespeare On Love"
at Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common, Boston (Tremont St Side)

SAT 8/13

2pm
"Shakespeare On Love"
at Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common, Boston (Tremont St Side)

Artistic Director Steven Maler said, "Both pieces are meant to introduce audiences that may know little about Shakespeare to some of the great scenes and characters from the canon."

If you don't want to sit through a whole play, these family-friendly productions.

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TUES 7/5

Young & Old (10:50pm), Dolfish (9:50pm), Uke Springsteen (8:50pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$8

While there's free music at other Cambridge/Somerville places such as Toad, Atwoods, Bull McCabe's; this is a relatively acoustic gig that doesn't happen regularly.

Along with a couple local acts, Ohio's Dolfish writes quirky tunes and sings in a high voice. It's safe to say that fans of Daniel Johnston or Violent Femmes will dig the sounds. Even Uke Springsteen doesn't seem to play straight ukulele version of Boss tunes.

My Thoughts: Shakespeare on the Common

...otherwise known as "Shakespeare in the Rain"

I was really planning to go this "As You Like It", but it rained on the nights I was free. I had even made plans with friends to go on SUN 7/27, but it rained. A total of 3 shows were canceled and 2 were stopped mid-show this year (out of 15 shows).

I distinctly remember that it rained when my lady and I went to "A Midsummer Night's Dream" last year. It was no fun for the performers -- thanks to the intermittent downpours -- I think they performed "Act 1, Scene 1" about 3 times over...

Why go to the annual Shakespeare on Boston Common? Because it's the works of the Great Bard for FREE! Thanks to the support of the arts, the citizenry should be thankful for the chance to experience quality theatre in open.

Again these are professional actors with a passion for their vocation, but I wonder if some take this gig with the knowledge that they'll get a few nights off...?

Hey, I had 10 out of 15 chances to see it. I'm not complaining -- just making my observation!