Actor! Actor!

Enjoying my summer and doing OK.
For quite a few years, my husband and I visited a dear friend who lives in the bucolic Hudson Valley of New York. It is about an hour and a half outside the city, but the differences can be measured in light years. While everything about NY is large, noisy and with high energy, the countryside outside the city is quaint and serene, and people enjoy the slower pace of life.  This is the home to many celebrities, ordinary people and a few left-over hippies.  It is also home to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival that runs from June 12th to September 2nd and is held on the grounds of  the Boscobel mansion in Garrison, New York. 



http://hvshakespeare.org
The site is situated on a cliff above the Hudson River and people are encouraged to picnic before the show. The scenery is breathtaking. Those times that we were there were some of the loveliest I have had on a vacation, enhanced more so by the old friends with whom we shared the evenings.



We have been unable to attend this festival for the past two years and I have missed these trips.  However, we looked around and have found alternatives.  We realized that towns all over have events like this planned, you just have to let yourself be open to the experiences.  Just because actors do not work in New York, London, or LA does not mean they are any less talented.  As a matter of fact, many of your hometown neighbors may have more talent in their little finger than Angelina Jolie, they just don't have her lips.

Two weeks ago I noticed that the Summer Arts Series in our area was presenting an Evening of Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost.  I checked out the specifics, asked hubby if he was interested (not so much) and invited some friends along (no takers).  Not discouraged, because I knew in the end that hubby would go (just needed some encouragement), I packed a picnic basket of shrimp, cheese, strawberries and freshly baked cookies along with a bottle of fine wine (encouragement for hubby), and with some folding chairs in hand, off we went.  Even though it was only 10 minutes away, we had a little trouble finding the location but after asking around, we were directed to a park located behind the Whole Foods store.  It was not exactly Boscobel.   We were one of the first to arrive but many people had chosen the option of a before-hand dinner held at a restaurant up the street from the event.  Some of the actors were rehearsing so we had a preview of what was to come.  The backdrop was a grove of bushes and it seemed to work very well, although again, not exactly Boscobel.  Behind us sat the matriarch and patriarch of the village and while we dined, they chewed our ears off about the history and politics of the area.  Then our local state senator came and sat with them and like all politicians, soon had his hand in my basket of cookies.  He was a very nice fellow though and I enjoyed getting to know him.  Then the show began.



It got better.


As we drank our fine wine, it got even better.







And after 2 glasses of wine, it got even better.



The event cost us $10.00, the after-show party was $15.00 each and included a beverage, some light fare and a chance to hob-nob with the cast.  A jazz group entertained us as we enjoyed our refreshments in the outside gardens of a 250 year old inn.  The acting troupe was local and will probably never get a chance to play at Boscobel  There were no interesting sets or props, and no jet set people in the audience, but the evening was just fine.  So my advice is to look around your small villages or towns, enjoy what have in your area, meet some new neighbors, and encourage the arts.  You might be surprised at what you find. 

Just in case it does not turn out well though, it might be wise to pack some spirits to get you through the evening.   It can't hurt.