DAVID STORCH “TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL”

HAPPENINGText: Mikey Richardson

There is always a lot to do on Canada Day in Toronto. On a nice sunny long-weekend people flock to the Beaches or the Harbourfront, if they aren’t at a cottage up north or camping. This year we chose to spend the day avoiding the heat indoors, and the evening at the opening night for the annual CanStage Dream in High Park. Each year one Shakespeare play is chosen and performed outdoors in the park for the duration of July and August. This year it’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will.

The event is stunning with the crowd sprawled across a grassy hill sitting on blankets munching on snacks brought from home. The play begins in the last light of day and ends in darkness with the stage lights beaming down on the bowing actors. If you can follow the Shakespearean lingo, or at least grasp the essence of what’s going on, the play is quite humourous and you’ll catch yourself laughing in all the right places.

The play has a pay-what-you-can admission with a suggested minimum donation of $15 and all performances start at 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday. The show lasted about 2 hours with no intermission, so bring you own snacks and a comfortable blanket to sit on. A can of bug spray would also be a good idea, you wouldn’t want to get the West Nile Virus, after all.

We’d definitely recommend this fun and casual evening in High Park as an alternative to the summer Hollywood theatre blockbusters. Although the theatres have air conditioning.

Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Directed by David Storch
Date: July 1st – August 31st, 2003
Place: High Park Toronto
Tel: +1 416 368 3110
http://www.canstage.com

Text: Mikey Richardson
Photos: Sandi Gidluck

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