Four young men take cold showers, sleep on hard beds, study all night, and see no women.
That’s the plan, anyway, in the court of old Navarre, when the king and his best friends vow to undergo three years of rigorous discipline that will make them famous for all time. But no sooner has their solemn oath been taken than four lovely ladies from France arrive on a diplomatic mission. And so begins Shakespeare’s delightful comedy, “Love’s Labor’s Lost,” this summer’s THEATREWORKS festival production, playing Aug. 2-26 at Rock Ledge Ranch.
“Love’s Labor’s Lost” is a feast of language, love, music and games set in the garden world of Navarre. The play celebrates two kinds of fire that burn throughout the play, none of them remotely connected to Waldo Canyon or the devastation that has ravaged Colorado this summer. These are the fires of inspiration, fueled both by language and love. The men fall in love at first sight, naturally, and it’s all over for those solemn vows. How could they do otherwise, seeing the brightness of these women’s eyes, which “sparkle still the right Promethean fire?” And because these are Renaissance men, once they are in love they are writing love poems, lots of love poems. In fact, everyone in this play is blazing with language—some brilliantly, some strangely, all enthusiastically. The schoolmaster, the parish priest, the shepherd, the fantastical Spaniard, and even the constable, a man named Dull, are all in love with language, fired up with brand new words. Love’s Labor’s Lost is Shakespeare’s happiest trampoline play, a rising fountain of young love and fresh language. And everything goes wonderfully, hilariously, until all of a sudden it doesn’t.
THEATREWORKS has assembled a stellar cast for all this summer’s play of love and words. Sammie Joe Kinnett is Berowne, the most cynical of the young men who also falls hopelessly in love, much to his shame. Kevin Landis, Christian O’Shaugnessy, and Jason Lythgoe make up the male quartet of scholars who swiftly change their course of study after catching fire from their ladies’ eyes. Amy Brooks, Tracy Hazas, Carmen Vreeman, and Kristina Magnuson arrive from France, bringing wit and beauty with them. Ben Bonenfant is their escort, a Frenchman with grace and effortless style. Jordan Matthews is a clumsy clown with a ready wit; Tom Paradise is the extraordinary Don Armado, a Spanish knight who talks like Don Quixote on mushrooms. Bob Rais is the marvelously pedantic school teacher, Holofernes, and Scott Autry will play Moth. Melvin Grier is the worthy constable, and Takiah Coleman a village lass who gets a lot of male attention.
Artistic Director Murray Ross is staging the play in Navarre, one of the homes of surrealism, to highlight its fanciful atmosphere. But he says that Rock Ledge Ranch is really what sets the scene this summer.
“‘Love’s Labor’s Lost is a garden play,’” he said, “whose action is all out doors. The men take their oaths outdoors, then visit the ladies, who they have kept outdoors. They break their oaths outdoors, woo their girls outdoors, and finally watch an outdoor play. Where better to stage all this than at Rock Ledge Ranch, a historic enchanted garden?”
Jane Spencer will light the clouds and trees, and Ashley Gamba will design the Prada inspired costumes.
To enhance the summer festivities, THEATREWORKS invites audience members to bring picnics to the ranch before the show. Hot dogs, ice-cream, and beverages will be available for sale, and the cast will be on hand with a pre-show musical entertainment. By order of the King, no women will be allowed in his court, but that decree is not likely to last long.
Rock Ledge Ranch is located at 3105 Gateway Road. Parking is free. All performances take place in a tent.
SHOW DATES & TIMES
Aug. 2-26
- Wednesdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
- There is one Sunday performance at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26.
- Margot’s Vienna Station will begin selling hot dogs and ice cream every night at 6 p.m.
- Free, pre-show festivities begin nightly at 6:30 p.m.
TICKETS (Reservations are encouraged)
- Reserved: $35
- Children under 16: $15 (Children under 5 years old will not be admitted)
- Friends & Family 4-Pack: $75
- Rock Ledge Ranch Day Ticket Holders & Members: $10
- A limited number of free ticket vouchers are available through Pikes Peak Library District
PROLOGUE LECTURE
6 p.m. Aug. 4, Rock Ledge Ranch, free admission.
Steven Booth, professor emeritus, University of California-Berkeley, will lead a discussion of the hidden gems in “Love’s Labor’s Lost.”
For reservations visit http://www.theatreworkscs.org or call the box office, (719) 255-3232.
— Caitlin Green
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