Theater group preparing Shakespeare-filled summer

Calpernia (Lydia Phillips) pleads with her husband, Julius Caesar (Ben Olthafer), during Actors Without Bard'ers' performance of "Julius Caesar" at the Spring Haebangchon Festival, May 30.

/ Korea Times photo by Kim Young-jin

By Kim Young-jin
Staff reporter

A Seoul-based Shakespeare troupe is gearing up to stage a pair of exciting performances, just in time for summer.

Actors Without Bard'ers (AWB), a community-based collection of expats and Koreans, will present an encore of its condensed version of "Julius Caesar" at Sindorim Station, June 20, and has a romantic new project in the works for later in the summer.

"Julius Caesar" is back by popular demand after AWB wowed a packed house at Orange Tree during last month's Haebangchon Music Festival.

Condensed into three acts to fit the festival's format, the performance brought the audience to its feet on the back of outstanding lead performances, despite less-than-stellar acoustics.

Such technical problems are unlikely to plague the encore, which will be staged at the amphitheatre at Sindorim Station. The open-air venue, according to AWB founder Kevin Gerald Connors, will give the thespians a chance to truly shine. "It's a really cool spot," Connors said, describing it as "a pit theater with a copper dome."

The drama peaks when Mark Antony, played rivetingly by Randel D'Souza, raises munity against those who conspired to assassinate Julius Caesar, with a rousing speech at the fallen dictator's funeral.

The play also features emotional portrayals of the pleading Calpernia (Lydia Phillips) and stoic Caesar (Ben Olthafer) as well as a dynamic supporting cast.

AWB is also in the preliminary stages of its new production, "Summer of Love," a scene-based package performance of the Bard's greatest love scenes. The project draws heavily from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and also includes scenes from "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," and others.

The company has yet to determine the venue and date for the romantic revival, but says a late August opening is likely. Details will be posted soon on the company's Facebook site.

Lindsey Higgins, organizer of the project, said AWB is actively seeking more participants for "Summer of Love," and encouraged actors of all levels to get involved.

The fledgling troupe first took to the stage last December, presenting a diverse collection of Shakespeare scenes at Roofers bar in Itaewon, Seoul.

The company, founder Connors said, came together partly to address the dearth of English-language Shakespeare performances in the country.

The ardent Shakespeare buff recalled having his hopes raised when he'd see posters for Macbeth and Hamlet performances around Seoul. "I've actually bought tickets and shown up at the theater only to find out that the performance was in Korean," he admitted.

AWB now appears poised to play a leading role in bringing more of the playwright's work to the city. By doing so, it will take its place in the city's bourgeoning expat stage community that also includes the Seoul Players, BH Productions and Seoul City Improv.

Organizer Higgins ― who will take the reins of AWB when Connors moves back home to Canada in midsummer ― said the company is looking to grow internally and in terms of outreach. She encouraged those interested in promotion, fundraising and stage management, as well as, of course acting, to join the group.

The company is an inclusive endeavor seeking to engage Shakespeare fans of all levels, Connors said.

"The good thing about this company is that it's community-based and open for anyone to join," he said. "So whether you're an amateur or a professional, if you're passionate about it, you're given a part."

Higgins added that cultural diversity enhances the AWB experience. "We have people from all over the world, including Koreans," she said. "We are really all about opening our doors to anyone who wants to try Shakespeare."

The encore performance of "Julius Caesar" will be staged at the amphitheater near Sindorim Station, exit 2, at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Contact actorswb@yahoo.com or visit the Actors Without Bard'ers Facebook site for more information.

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