Legacy Stage brings Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” outdoors to Chico with a vibrant Shakespeare in the Park production.
From June 4 through June 14, Cedar Grove Meadow in Bidwell Park is a magical island this summer.
Erin Horst, Legacy Stage’s co-founder, directed the performance and believes that celebrating theatre outside is truly needed in the current state of affairs.
“I think having outdoor theater just makes the whole experience that much more whimsical and magical, and it also has that feeling of bringing us all together for a common purpose and some shared joy,” Horst said.
The story is a tale filled with betrayal, deception and forgiveness. Cast out by his brother, Prospero is sent to sea in a boat with his three-year-old daughter Miranda. A violent storm orchestrated by Prospero strands the nobles on his island, including his brother Antonio.
“It is a true reflection of what we all are capable of being in connection with each other,” Horst said.
For Horst, sitting in the director’s chair was not a problem, as Shakespeare is her favorite to direct, as it lends itself to being applicable in lots of different contexts.
“I think that's part of the reason why it's done so much is that it resonates so deeply with so many people, and the poetry can be interpreted in so many different ways,” Horst said.
To ensure the performance remained accessible to modern audiences, Horst trimmed some dialogue to achieve a more practical running time.
Horst is aware that Shakespeare can often feel outdated because of its more than 400 years of iambic pentameter dialogue, but says it’s best not to dwell on it.
“You have to have fun with it, and the more fun the actors and the creators have in approaching the text, the less stuffy it feels,” Horst said. “We have to kind of bring it to life in a very down-to-earth and approachable way for the audience.”
Another obstacle is navigating the logistics of turning Cedar Grove Meadows into a night at the theatre, including bringing in professional lighting equipment, costuming and set design.
This is all in a season’s work for Horst, whose belief in the mission of what Legacy Stage is trying to do, which is to grow and sustain a professional theater in Chico that serves both the audience and professional artists in the community.
“It's just such a need for folks who want to work in theater,” she said, “and for our patrons who love to see high-quality, innovative storytelling, and that's why we do it.”
