two hits of the bard, straight outta texas!

I have been so blessed with Shakespeare this year!!!

First were two locally-produced musicals, "Romeo & Juliet" with "Much Ado About Nothing", as teens and young folk are prone to do.

(smile! Snuck in a little pun there!)

Those were performed by different troupes which were likely unaware that each had chosen the same writer.

That was all just fortuitous timing for my bday67 - thank y'all!!! 

Last night, and Friday night as well, I was treated to another twosome of the Bard of Avon's works, one historical, one fanciful.

Neither were musicals, though "As You Like It" did have a bit of song, whereas "Henry V" had none.

Neither had any overlapping characters in their stories, either, though both were overladen with the minor, and major, titles of those with royal blood. 

However, the two plays did have one thing in common: the theatre troupe which brought their tales to life.

Seriously!

Both were performed by the troupe at the University of Houston, for Houston's 51st Annual Shakespeare Festival, for the purpose of drawing together their "diverse community to explore... common humanity" - how amazing is that???

Here's something even more amazing: all nine performances throughout the course of the festival were free!!!

Then there's this: two of the performances were streamed live, for free, on the venue's youtube channel!!!

What sweet music to my ears when I saw that post on fb!

The only reason it appeared in my feed was because my friend Lorrie Ruggiero, who lives in Houston, had Miller Outdoor Theater as one of her 'likes'.

Hallelujah!!!

So, on Friday, after the SVF13 cabaret, I tuned in to Miller Outdoor's "Dream Stream" for "Henry V" and was a little lost at first, as historical sagas aren't my strong suit.

But what a thrill to hear that famous "Once more into the breach..." as Henry leads his men into battle in France!

Honestly, every military battle since has been fought for the glory perceived in that 16th century quest!

At the end of the bloody warmongering, Henry had lost almost 500 men... but the French had more than 10,000 dead on the field.

Then it was time to pitch woo, not war!

Fair Katharine had agreed to be his wife, so her dad, the defeated king, had to sanction their marriage.

Ah, yes, love wins out and the two kingdoms were made one as well!

Isn't it lovely when a plan works out?

Then, last night, I came home after Friedman's cabaret and tuned in to the Dream Stream again, this time for a rom-com!

Here's the meet-cute of Orlando and Rosalind, after his wrestling victory, as her cousin Celia looks on.

By the end of the play, there are four weddings (and no funeral! for those who get the 1994 reference!)  

First, of course, is that of Oliver and Rosalind, who was disguised as "Ganymede", a man, earlier when she and Celia had to flee to the forest.

Phebe, a shepherdess who had loved "Ganymede", is wed to Silvius, a shepherd who had loved her for some time.

Touchstone, the courtier who had accompanied Rosalind and Celia when they fled, gets married to Audrey, the singing shepherdess who won his heart.

And what about Celia?

She gets hitched to Orlando's older brother, Oliver!

Happy, happy, happy, happy!

(smile!)

I also found out from the youtube chat that the two live-streams will stay up until Tuesday, so I've posted those on fb for JinHi and others of the theatre scene here.

She's been going through a rough patch with new meds for her lung cancer, so these will be a welcome distraction for a fellow Shakespeare fan!

Paying it forward, however I can!