Shakespeare In Forest Park, St. Louis

“Antony & Cleopatra, Forest Park, St. Louis, 05/22/2015;” watercolor on Canson 140lb cold press, Michael Anderson.

“Antony and Cleopatra” is being performed nightly under the stars for free through June 14. This year is the 15^th season for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. Each year the festival alternates a comedy or tragedy but the production values, actors, costumes and set design are always top notch. In 2011 “The Taming of the Shrew” was presented in a 1950’s setting complete with a mid-century modern villa, 50’s style rock music and even a gold 1957 Cadillac convertible was driven on stage as part of the action. By contrast the current show is presented with only a very few props and a simple set comprised of 5 dramatically lit gold-leafed pillars on a raked stage. The wooded background of Forest Park completes the scenery perfectly. The spare design relies on Shakespeare’s language and your imagination to convey action, location and setting.  I must admit I sometimes find Shakespearean syntax incomprehensible. Yet the meaning always comes across and in fact it always surprises me how many expressions we use in daily conversation originally appeared in the plays. In the first act Cleopatra says that these are her "salad days."

The link below is to a short video of Milton Glaser creating a portrait of Shakespeare while he explains the importance of drawing.

http://www.openculture.com/2015/04/designer-milton-glaser-explains-why-drawing-is-the-key-to-understanding-life.htm

Twelfth Night, St. Louis

Free Shakespeare in Forest Park resumed this weekend for its twelfth season with an appropriate comedy, Twelfth Night. Friday's opening night weather was cool but clear. The actors' performances are well crafted and very funny. A musical ensemble plays songs on stage as part of the story, a first for the festival. Also for the first time a special free Groundlings seating area directly in front of the stage is available on a first come first seved basis, a Globe Theatre tradition.  I am always struck by how many familiar phrases in Shakespeare plays remain part of the language. Twelfth Night contains examples such as "If  music be the food of love then play on" and "some have greatness thrust upon them."

This view is from the green seats close to the stage. The set features a tilted building facade and a tree silhouetted against a giant moon. Overhead a real and unusually bright "Super Moon" lit up the sky. I began the sketch prior to the performance and worked it until it was too dark to paint any longer. I heigthened some details with gouache in daylight the next day when I could actually see what I was doing.

Twelfth Night, 05/24/2013. Michael Anderson, Watercolor, goauche, pencil on Canson 140lb cold press, 7" h x 9"w.