It is supposed to be bad luck to wish a stage performer good luck; hence the thespian cliché "Break a leg" in effect meaning "Knock 'em dead".  I watched the concluding Shakespeare Festival production of "The Taming of the Shrew" in Pine Mountain Club last night and have to admit that I'm impressed.  It is a 400 year old +/- comedy and the troupe accomplished its goal of entertaining those in attendance and making them laugh....repeatedly

The cast was made up of professionals and amateurs and one of the best things about the production was I knew many of the performers.  I'm sure that's how it was when The Taming of the Shrew made its debut possibly somewhere between 1590 and 1623.  Local players in a low budget setting with those in the audience getting an extra kick out of seeing people they knew on stage.

Peter Kjenaas and Bill Fair's direction, I'm sure, dictated that the cast not attempt to speak with an English accent.  If this was their decision, it was a good one.  They might have ended up with the following...Italian characters speaking Victorian English portrayed by Southern Californian actors that may or may not consistently speak the way they might have in London or Oxford.  A number of the bit players were junior high and high school age and they doubled as stage hands; changing furniture in between scenes.  This necessary process was a show in itself with one girl throwing up her arms in a non-verbal "tada!" after moving a chair into place.  What a great opportunity for these local kids; to perform with some seasoned actors.

Congratulations to the supporting crew.  You performed a labor of love. The sponsor's money was well spent.  Congratulations to the cast: Beans Morocco, Henry Rigdon, John Lucewich, Dale Sheldon, Sam Greer, Gonzalo Lomeli, Gigi Day, Rhonda De La Cruz, Julia Canada, Violet Rose Fowler, Tom Donovan, Delaney Peterson, Brooke Wood, Stacey Havener, David Mack, Bill Day, Miles Vivirito, Katie Barnes, Warren Stearns, Luis De La Cruz, Rocky Canada, Colton Fair, David Stenstrom and Bill Fair.  You broke your collective leg. 

The group is performing The Odd Couple tonight and tomorrow night  8:00 PM at the gazebo in PMC.  Admission is $10 standard and $5 for seniors.  It should be well worth it.