Theatre Review:
What: “Love Labour’s Lost” – Equity
Where: Beardsley Park Zoo, Bpt. & Guilford Green, Guilford
When: Through Aug. 4 in Bpt. & Aug. 9-12 Guilford
How Good: 5 Scale 1 – 5 with 5 a rave
Tickets: Free to the public
Box office: No reservations  necessary

“Love’s Labour’s Lost” Found at the Zoo
Joanne Rochman
July 25, 2007

Thickly leafed trees drenched in red and gold light flank the performance area. A peacock with its long train of showy feathers perches itself on top of the stage and doesn’t budge even as the songs of the ‘60s, a limbo dance, and the twist pulsate center stage.  There’s a lot of music and plenty of dance, but this is neither a concert nor a musical. It is Connecticut Free Shakespeare’s production of  “Love’s Labour’s Lost.”

Considering that the play is so deeply saturated in high Elizabethan culture and heavy with word play and language usage (reportedly “200 – 240 puns” many based on courtly events), it is quite remarkable how this company manages to keep the integrity of Shakespeare’s play intact even though the adaptation is wildly liberal. Nonetheless, the production works like a charm and is tightly focused on the company’s mission to make Shakespeare understandable and accessible to today’s audiences.

Artistic director, Ellen Lieberman, sets the play in the 1960s at the University of Navarre (a clever move from Navarre, Spain where Shakespeare first set the action with the formation of a scholarly academy).  In the Connecticut production, the Kappas, fraternity brothers, swear an oath to study and keep away from women, drink, and earthly delights for three years. Obviously, this is an oath that begs to be broken. Cupid will have none of it and before the ink dries on their signed promises, the frat brothers fall head over heels for the ladies in the Zeta Sorority. In some ways, the improbable oath backfires and becomes more of love’s revenge than love’s labors. But love is in the air on this campus in a big way, for it’s not just the college students who are in love; even the professors and the staff are smitten.

Each member of this super-talented cast is a triple threat. All cast members sing, dance, and act superbly. Not only do they sing, but most times they sing a cappella. “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” “Our Day Will Come,” “In the Still of the Night” and other popular ‘60’s songs fill the night air with exquisite melody. Eric Nyquist plays Andy Ferdinand with compelling sincerity. Dressed in blazers, shirts and ties, Ian Eaton, Mark Friedlander, Kevin Stangler, and Francis Matco make a proper fraternity. Pledges Austin Auh, Doug Plaut, Eric Pesale, and Steve Mazzoccone delight the audience not only with their talents but their beanies complete with spinners on top. Saluda Camp and Jared Reinmuth are university professors and Siena D’Addario and Rusty Moore are youngsters who like to hang around the campus. Tim Shelton plays Curtis Costard, the campus maintenance man. He’s slick, good looking, and sings up a storm whether he is impersonating Elvis, writing sonnets, or delivering love notes.

Sorority sisters, all talented and charming include Caitlin Chuckta, Katrina Foy, Rebekah B. Dunnand Uma I. Incrocci. Sorority pledges include energetic Liliane Klein, Bo O’Connor and Lauren Elias. The hip radio host’s voice belongs to Dennis Henry.

A set comprised of arches and marble-like pillars proves to be as functional as it is ivy league attractive.  The production is free of charge and no reservations are necessary. Picnic tables and a concession stand are available. This is a must see for the entire family. One little three-year old girl got so excited with all the dancing that she put on quite a show in the aisles.

While I can’t guarantee that the peacock will flaunt its feathers for every performance, I can guarantee that you’ll have a great time with this liberally adapted Shakespeare comedy. Productions run Web. – Sun. July 25 – 29 and Wed. – Sat. Aug. 1 – 4. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. No reservations or tickets are necessary. As the name suggests it’s free. A bucket is passed around during intermission for donations.

If you miss the Bridgeport production, the company will also present this play on the Guilford Green in Guilford, on Aug. 9 – 12.

Joanne Greco Rochman is an active member in The American Theatre Critics Association, and a founding member of The Connecticut Critics Circle.  She is also managing editor of TheatreCT magazine. She welcomes comments. Contact: Jrochman@earthlink.net