Shakespeare at Mabee Farm

Will Kempe’s Players are bringing two Shakespeare plays to Mabee Farm! In these special performances, the cast directly addresses the audience, engaging the crowd and perpetuating their existence in the world of the play. Choose from August 15 Measure for Measure or August 16 Much Ado About Nothing.

• Measure for Measure (August 15):

Disguises! Mistaken Identities! Pranks and tricks! True love! And magical marriages! Measure for Measure exploits all the themes and devices of sweet comedy to view the usually serious world of oppressive law, untreatable disease, foolish law enforcement, coerced sex, slander and execution. Actors and audiences alike will confront ideas and situations still relevant in the 21st century—in an ultimately hope-infused 17th century incarnation. This performance will run about 2 hours plus a 10 minute intermission.

• Much Ado About Nothing (August 16):

The war is over, but the wooing certainly isn’t. When Don Pedro’s soldiers return from war, they also return to their old lives and find that the saying is true: love is a battlefield. While young Claudio’s eyes finally notice Hero, Beatrice and Benedick find their ancient “merry war” still wages on. While Beatrice and Benedick’s friends conspire to get them together, Don Pedro’s bastard-of-a-brother, Don John, conspires to break Hero and Claudio apart. Will love finally win, or are we all just making Much Ado About Nothing? This performance will run about 2 hours plus a 10 minute intermission.