I’ve just returned from Shakespeare Abridged out at the Cornell Plantations, and a wonderful time was had. I estimated correctly when I said I thought it would take about forty minutes to walk there (what with it being uphill most of the way and me not knowing my way about the north end of campus). The worst of it is the hike up to the Engineering Quad (you know, the part I have to do daily). Walking across campus proper was mostly flat until I got back to Beebe Lake and the waterfall. The campus was crawling with new freshmen and their parents, but once I turned to follow along the Lake, it was pretty much just me and the trees. And those three deer that I passed not twenty feet from. It’s gorgeous back there. I really have to go back (with a camera!) once the weather cools a bit. I’m sure when the leaves start turning it will be an all new kind of lovely.
After some minor detours and the aforementioned forty minutes of walking, I located the Shakespeare show. The lady I collected my program from and offered my donation to was shocked that I’d walked as far as I had. I believe her words were that “it was awfully intrepid of you”. She was kind enough to offer me a ride back to State St. after the show, which I gladly accepted. I wasn’t sure how long the show was supposed to be, and I wasn’t keen on walking back after dark, but I needn’t have worried even if she hadn’t offered a ride.
The show itself was very entertaining. The troupe was missing one player–she’s in the hospital right now–and one of their directors was filling in. Things flowed smoothly nonetheless. There was even a joke about how, in attempting to make Shakespeare something that modern audiences could relate to, writers had placed Shakespeare’s works in such strange locations as a lunar landscape or Cleveland, Ohio. I laughed more than anyone else present at that one, as you might imagine.
Although I liked the presentation of the tragedies (my literary favorites) and the transformation of the histories into a football game, I think the lumping of the sixteen comedies into one was my favorite. They had painted signs to show the different characters and what was going on. There was even a joke about The Cherry Orchard, and you can’t go wrong with that. Just like you can’t go wrong sticking Kafka references in a Mel Brooks show.
Afterwards, while awaiting Nancy, my ride, I helped collect chairs for the troupe. In doing so, I met a couple of the actors, who thought they’d seen me before. When I confessed that I’m new to campus, one of them declared that I must “just have that Cornell aura” about me. Maybe it was the Google t-shirt that gave it away. The other actor, John, is a mechanical engineering student. I’m not certain whether he’s a grad or an undergrad, but, in either case, I’m sure to see him again.
Nancy was surprised to find that I was new here (and yet at the show), but she figured that my newness to town might explain why I’d chosen to walk all the way there. When I explained that I didn’t know about the parking situation on the Plantations, she decided that I might be making some sense after all. We had a nice chat on the way back and she gave me her card and encouraged me to contact her if I had any “town questions” or anything else. It’s nice to find that people are so friendly around here. When I visited in March, I liked how friendly my department was, but, certainly, a whole town full of people like that trumps.
Have I been living in a city too long or what?
The troupe was missing one player
Are you trying to say they did the whole show with two actors?? That would be fantastically amazing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
No, they did it with five people, one of whom was a substitute. I’m pretty sure that ‘troupe’ doesn’t imply a particular number.
By the way, I’m holding you to that first weekend off. Get up here before all the leaves are gone. You really have to see the Plantations.
Right, the word “troupe” doesn’t mean any particular number, but when I saw it there were three actors, so I assumed that the cast would be the same for your show.
Fear not! The next time I’m in the newspaper office I’ll track down a publication schedule and see when we first skip a week. There should certainly be one for fall break in October, if nothing else.
Ah, well, I just failed to mention some of them, I’m afraid. I have to say that when they had a fit over one of them saying “Macbeth,” I half expected a rendition of that episode of Blackadder with the “Hot potato, hot potato…” schtick. Alas, not. They did perform Macbeth with amusing Scottish accents, though.
There’s a spot here on the sofa waiting for you. Mark needs to come visit sometime, too. Otherwise he won’t ever get his mixing bowl back. Mwuahahahaha!
We caught Shakespeare Abridged over at Muskingum in July. It was mostly competent but not as good as a troupe that did it in WV a few years ago.
Sadness. These guys seemed pretty good. I enjoyed myself a lot.