This is the last weekend to catch Ophelia’s Jump Productions’ Midsummer Shakespeare Festival, which is presenting Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in an outdoor, relaxed, and safe setting at the Sontag Greek Theatre, on the Pomona College campus in Claremont.
The venue is open prior to the performance to accommodate picnickers, with booths featuring artists and artisanal vendors, and concessions including craft beer, wine, and snacks. There is also a nightly, 7 pm, pre- show musical number. Ray MacNamara will perform on July 23; Elizabeth Hangan and Marguerite Millard on July 24; and Silvia Bosco on July 25.
Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy. The play centers on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola falls in love with Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola (who was disguised as Cesario), Countess Olivia falls in love with her, convinced she’s is a man.
The play is directed by Caitlin Lopez. “Twelfth Night tells the story of Viola who has washed up on the shores of the vibrant and uninhibited Illyria after a shipwreck,” she says. “In this modern queer fairytale, she and a cast of colorful characters all must discover what it means to truly love and embrace their heart’s desires.”
The play’s cast includes Janelle Kester, Sam Forbes, Jenny Lockwood, Marc Antonio Pritchett, Holly Scott, Ryan Herrera, Ian Hartidge, Janette Valenzo, Scott Robinson, and Caitlin Lopez herself.
The Sontag Greek Theatre is located on the campus of Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711. Admission is $25 / children under 10, $20. Purchase tickets at http://opheliasjump.org. For more information call (909) 734-6565.
For your comfort, bring a cushion, as these are concrete seats, or a blanket to enjoy the play from the lawn.
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