The most successful production in history is set to return to Vancouver with Beatles songs, a wrestling ring and an 鈥淥kanagan鈥� forest.
Starting June 8 at Kitsilano鈥檚 Vanier Park, the annual Shakespeare festival will open its 34th season with the Beatles-infused production
The 鈥�60s-era musical version of the romantic comedy, conceived and directed by Daryl Cloran, broke box-office records for BOTB in 2018, and has since toured North America.
鈥淲e are delighted to bring back the most successful production in Bard鈥檚 history,鈥� Christopher Gaze, the theatre company鈥檚 artistic director, said in a news release.
The cast will include actors who played in the 2018 production, and some new ones. Newton-raised actor Chelsea Rose (as Rosalind) appears in a show promo photo on the festival website, alongside Oscar Derkx (as Orlando).
Rose鈥檚 last big role in Vancouver was Maria in 鈥淭he Sound of Music鈥� at the Arts Club Theatre Company鈥檚 Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage last fall.
鈥� RELATED: .
With 鈥淎s You Like It,鈥� from wrestling ring to the middle of the 鈥淥kanagan鈥� forest, the cast will perform Beatles songs live, Cloran notes.
鈥淭he songs we鈥檝e chosen lend themselves perfectly to the Shakespearean text,鈥� the director says. 鈥淭he evolution of The Beatles through the 鈥�60s is reminiscent of the free-spirited journey of the play鈥檚 main characters and the social and cultural evolution of Vancouver during that time.鈥�
Added Cloran: 鈥淲e鈥檙e working with choreographer and fight director Jonathan Purvis to literally bring audiences ringside, with an homage to the excitement of All-Star Wrestling in the 鈥�60s in Vancouver, including a pre-show wrestling match, then we transform the stage into the forest of the Okanagan.鈥�
The festival鈥檚 BMO Mainstage will also show Shakespeare鈥檚 political drama, , and the Howard Family Stage will be busy with , followed by the interactive comedy .
The production will involve some special events, including Bard Fireworks nights (July 22, 26 and 29), Family Days stagings (July 16, Aug. 20), Pride Night (July 24) and a 鈥渞elaxed鈥� performance (July 1 at 2 p.m.).
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