‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ comes to S&Co. for first time

LENOX – Love’s Labour’s Lost, one of William Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, is now on stage for the first time in town.

Shakespeare and Company’s first production of the play, here set in the post-war 1940s, provides two and a half hours of memorable laughs and romance.

The play, which centers on the meeting of four noblemen of Navarre and four French women, features a cast of 16 S&Co. veterans and is directed by Lisa Wolpe, who learned her craft at the Lenox campus.

“I’m delighted to be invited back to Shakespeare and Company, where I trained and taught as a young artist, to now direct at the Tina Packer Playhouse,” Ms. Wolpe said.

S&Co. Artistic Director Tony Simotes praised Ms. Wolpe’s direction.

“Never before performed on our Kemble Street property, I knew that Love’s Labour’s Lost required a unique voice to bring this clever and moving production to a level that would excite and entertain our discerning audiences and challenge the artists of our company as only this award-winning director can do,” he said.

“I am proud that she has found the time to ‘come home’ as it were and bring back to our stages her style, wit and most noble passion for Shakespeare,” Mr. Simotes added.

This production is clearly a passion project for Ms. Wolpe.

“I have been contemplating the journey of the young princess in Love’s Labour’s Lost, who is sent by her father to marry a man who has banished all women from his court,” she added. “And I imagine watching her grow into a woman and a queen before our eyes, while managing the education and evolution of her intended swain.”

The characters do grow in the play, measured through standout performances by the eight leads, Jason Asprey (The King), Brooke Parks (The Princess), Mark Bedard (Berowne), David Joseph (Dumaine), Andy Talen (Longaville), Nafeesa Monroe (Rosaline), Kelly Galvin (Maria) and Kate Abbruzzese (Katharine).

The sheer humor and comedic delivery is what stands out the most about this particular production, though. In addition to the main cast, Ryan Winkles is also quite hilarious as Dull.

Love’s Labour’s Lost runs through Sept. 1. Tickets cost $15-$95 and can be purchased at the box office (70 Kemble St.), by calling (413) 637-3353 or online at shakespeare.org.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on July 11, 2013. Filed under Arts and Entertainment,Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry