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“A One-Man Romeo & Juliet” “A One-Man Romeo & Juliet”

06/22/05

“A One-Man Romeo & Juliet” Debuts Actor Bill Oberst, Jr. brings a new production, A One-Man Romeo & Juliet, to Brookgreen Gardens’ Cool Summer Evenings series this summer. The show debuts Wednesday, June 15 and repeats on June 22 & 29, July 6 & 13 and August 17. All performances are at 7:30 pm and last approximately 40 minutes.

A One Man Romeo & Juliet is the actor’s frantic take on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers, using Shakespeare’s original language in what Oberst calls a “severely edited” version that retains the familiar plot and highlights Shakespeare’s bawdy comedy alongside the poetry of romance. Portraying 11 characters (with the help of a costume wardrobe designed by Theatrics Unlimited of Charleston) Oberst hopes to capture what he calls “the rowdiness” of performance in Shakespeare’s day.
“These were tough, tough audiences,” Oberst explained, “peasants crowding the stage in an open-air pit. They had to be kept engaged or they’d turn on the players. So Shakespeare mixed double entendres and earthy jokes in with his romance. The combination was brilliant and it still works. So you don’t have to be stuck-up or sophisticated to enjoy this show.” He continued,” I designed it for peasants like me.”

It’s something of a Shakespeare summer at Brookgreen, as the Conway theatrical troupe The Castaways performs the Bard’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” on July 20 & 27 and August 3 & 10 as part of the Cool Summer Evenings programs.

Oberst has a long history at
Brookgreen. He appeared in past summer productions there including Aaron & Theodosia, The Patriots at Brookgreen and the comedy show On Our Best Behavior. His recitation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol debuted at Brookgreen’s Night of A Thousand Candles Celebration four years ago, and has toured the country since. “It’s always such a pleasure to perform at Brookgreen,” he says “there’s something really magical about the place.”

Brookgreen Gardens is located on U.S. 17 between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Children 12 and under are admitted free; adult tickets (19-64) are $12; young adults (13-18) and seniors (65 and over) are $10. Admission to Brookgreen is good for seven days. All entertainment is included in the admission price. Creek excursions are not included in admission. Brookgreen contains the Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden, the country’s first sculpture garden where more than 550 works of American sculpture are displayed and the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve, which contains several thousand acres of native plants and animals. For more information call 800-849-1931.

Related Link: http://www.brookgreen.org

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