Our Fall Show is Back!!
This fall, returning to an old tradition of having two productions a year, the Arden Shakespeare Gild will present Christopher Fry's The Lady's Not For Burning.
Directed by Katie Donovan, The Lady's Not For Burning is a romantic comedy set in the 1400s (more or less). It is a rambunctious and entertaining production unleashing some wicked wordplay and thoughtful discourse on the value of living, despite its often recurring inanity.
Thomas Mendip has returned from an unnamed war experiencing "exhaustion and despair" that reflects the world's emotions in any period of chaos and combat. Fry uses this comedy to comment on a conventional, hypocritical society that has no use for veterans, marries for money, overlooks crimes when expedient, and condemns a girl who lives alone and dabbles in science (Sound familiar?)
Thomas wants to be hung and invents murders that he believes will result in someone else taking responsibility for his demise. None of the local government officials are interested because they don't believe him and because there is no entertainment or financial value in his execution.
Enter Jennet Jourdemayne, a lovely, wealthy young woman, who is accused of turning one of Thomas' invented victims into a dog. She wants to live and believes she will find intelligent, thinking people in the Mayor's home who will see the humor and folly of her situation. She is wrong. What transpires is a thoughtful, comedic examination of honor, love and the value of life. It strongly resembles Shakespeare's pastoral comedies in the vein of As You Like it.
The Lady's Not For Burning will be played at the Frank Stephens Memorial Theater on the Arden Green. Bad weather performances will be on the Gild Hall Stage.
The production opens on Saturday, September 26th and will also be performed on Sunday, September 27th, Friday, October 2nd, Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th at 7:00 PM.
There will be an outdoor-only performance on Thursday, October 1st — weather permitting, with no inside performance that night.
Tickets are $10 for all adults and $5 for 8th grade students and younger. They may be purchased on Zeffy.com beginning Sept 7th, or at the door. There will be no pre-sales for Thursday, October 1st. If you choose to purchase tickets at the door, the only form of payment will be cash or checks.
“Diseases desperate grown, by desperate appliance are relieved. Or not at all.”
The Shakespeare Gild continues to meet in the Gild Hall on the first Wednesday of every month. All are welcome as we gather to plan our upcoming events. The summer's production, Macbeth, will be directed by Mary Catherine Kelly.
We welcome anyone who would like to volunteer for any technical support positions. Our production runs June 12-15, & 19-21. Email Baxterj@neumann.edu for additional info.
Be on the lookout for Arden improv workshops TBA for May, for children 8-up, families, and adults.
“…the spring, the summer, The chilling autumn, angry winter, change Their wonted liveries; and the mazed world By their increase, now knows not which is which.”
THE ARDEN SHAKESPEARE GILD continues a 100-year tradition of community Shakespeare in the historic village of Arden, Delaware. A member organization of the Arden Club, the gild is dedicated to including everyone with an interest in Shakespeare, both as audience and as a participant. The gild produces one of Shakespeare’s plays each summer in the open-air Frank Stephens Memorial Theater in Arden. Each winter our members direct a Young Actors Workshop for kids from age 6 through high school. The gild also sponsors lectures, readings, and social activities throughout the year.
MONTHLY MEETINGS. The Arden Shakespeare Gild meets in the Gild Hall on the first Wednesday of each month (except June). Our business meeting at 7:30 is followed around 8 pm by informal scenes. Newcomers are always welcome. The Gild Hall is located just south of Harvey Road at Orleans Road; our address is 2126 The Highway, Arden, Delaware 19810.
Stages in Arden
- The Gild Hall Stage is the rain location for Shakespeare Gild productions.
- The Moonlight Theater, adjacent to the Gild Hall, is a lovely venue for occasional Shakespeare events, concerts, and weddings.
- The Field Theater is the outdoor site for Shakespeare Gild productions and other community events. The Field Theater was one of the first things “built” in Arden when it was founded in 1900. Even before building their houses, early Arden residents laid out this stage with a huge granite boulder as a backdrop so they could do Shakespeare. The stage and Shakespeare are still very much a part of everyday life in Arden!
