The Delaware Shakespeare Festival's Twelfth Night

Shakespeare Al Fresco

 

~ By Jessica Graae

 

Thanks to Mother Nature’s bountiful rain, we caught the Delaware Shakespeare Festival’s opening of Twelfth Night on Saturday in Wilmington’s beautiful Rockwood Park.  The company, in its seventh year, continues a much-loved tradition for Delawareans who might not otherwise get much Shakespeare or theater in the summer.  The Bard’s hysterical farce entertained young and old.

 

We got to the park early to get the perfect spot for our blanket in front of the Rockwood Mansion, which serves as the stage for this enthusiastic young company.  Its Tudor-style crossbeams and slightly crumbling façade transport the actors and audience to a by-gone era.  Scenic designer Simon Harding uses the various levels and doorways of the house to maximum effect, with minimal fuss.  The sunlight, which lights the set for the first hour of the performance, gives way to stage lighting creeping in, almost unnoticed.

 

Orsino’s famous opening lines “If music be the food of love, play on” are underscored by the sultry sounds of a saxophone playing.  The music and designer Regina Rizzo’s clever costumes of linen and tweed transport us to the 1930s or 1940s.  Rizzo even creates an updated version of the cross-gartered leg ensemble for Malvolio, whose role was performed hilariously by Brian McCann.

 

Ably directed by Karen DiLossi, the entire cast projected their words with clarity.   The actors moved about freely, without being constrained by the location of the microphones.  I was concerned the latecomers sitting further back might miss nuances of the performance, but it was clear from the hearty laughter and applause, nothing was missed. 

 

For more information about the performances, which run through August 1, go to www.delshakes.org or call 302.764.0113.

Brandywine Guitar Quartet at Pell Gardens

Chris Braddock, Dan Graper, Mark Unruh and Mark Oppenheimer are the versatile members of the guitar quartet they founded in the summer of 2008.

Speaking to Chris about the group means hearing the incredible energy and enthusiasm he has for the music. He, like the other three, is a composer (see blog on SOWETO Festival for a review of his composition for harpsichord and mandolin for Melomanie.)

For the August 9 concert at the Pell Gardens along the canal in Chesapeake City, Chris has transposed the William Zinn arrangement of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, and Dan Graper has arranged some Leroy Anderson string quartet arrangements of Blue Tango, Jazz Pizzicato, Belle of the Ball.

They will even do a Beethoven trio arrangement as well as the first movement of the third Brandenburg Concerto – so variety will not be lacking.

Come enjoy the gardens under the stars with this free concert.

To listen to the quartet: www.myspace.com/brandywineguitarquartet.

To hear Dan Graper’s music: www.myspace.com/dangraper.

To hear Chris Braddock’s music: http://www.braddockmusic.com/.

ARTY at the Party!

Our very own arts party-hopper, ARTY, was out on the town this week. This time, Arty hit the annual Mélomanie picnic on July 18 at the home of co-Artistic Director and harpsichordist Tracy Richardson. The ensemble hosts the event each year to celebrate its past season, thank colleagues and collaborators, and look to the coming year. Arty was thrilled to see that the intimate get-together was a veritable “who’s who” of regional performers! Arty chatted up violinist Sylvia Ahramjian and Mélomanie co-Artistic Director and flutist Kim Reighley, who were both delighted to be holding repertory classes this year at West Chester University.

Composer Chuck Holdeman was excited about the premiere of his Quintetto, set for the International Double Reed Society convention in England on July 23.

Guitarist and composer Chris Braddock---there with his beautiful wife, soprano Jeanmarie Braddock, and daughter Ellie---talked enthusiastically about his Brandywine Guitar Quartet’s upcoming concert on August 9 in Chesapeake City.

Also in attendance was composer Ingrid Arauco, who was quite pleased with the recent premiere of her Divertimento at the Delaware Chamber Music Festival. Percussionist Gerardo Razumney was lively, as he explained to guests the difference between Argentinian tango and the American ballroom tango.

A great gathering of artists on a beautiful summer day! Look for information on Mélomanie's 2009-2010 season coming soon! Thanks for the invite, Mélomanie!

Got a party you'd like ARTY to attend? Send us an email at info@artsinmedia.com.