Jul 15, 2007

Festival off to a princely start

By Adria Murray / Society Columnist

As the soft rays of light of the warm summer evening faded into darkness, the Festival Theatre Ensemble began its sixth annual Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival at Oak Meadow Park on Friday.

Running in repertory with Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Julius Caesar" and Moliere's "Tartuffe," the festival opened with "Pericles, Prince of Tyre," a Shakespearean tale of romance and adventure. Artistic Director Bruce De Les Dernier was robed and excitedly waiting to take the stage Friday night as assassin Leonine for a sword-fighting scene with his 13-year-old son Robin. "We've never had a fighting scene together," De Les Dernier said. "I'm really looking forward to it."

In true Shakespearean fashion, choreographer Kimberly Wood said many of the actors played several roles in "Pericles," along with several roles in the festival's other two productions.

In addition to the three plays, the festival will also be presenting a newly expanded series of free events. Ensemble alumni Nika and Dennis Serras, who meet in 1996 while playing the roles of Romeo and Juliet, and who eventually married, started a production company in Los Angeles and will premiere their short film, "Seven Swans," at the West Valley Federated Women's Club of Los Gatos on July 18. On July 25, Festival Theatre Ensemble actors and friends will present a reading of five scenes from next year's non-Shakespeare production, "The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers," written by charter company member and Board President Mark D. Pickens.

Organized through the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Education and Recreation Department in conjunction with the festival, Camp Shakespeare teaches children ages 8 through 12 about the fundamentals of classical stagecraft. At the end of each weeklong session, they will perform a medley of Shakespeare's plays for friends and family on the festival stage, on July 23 and 30.

With more than 35 Shakespeare productions under his belt and 14 years with the ensemble, founder De Les Dernier said this is the first time he's directed the great "Julius Caesar," albeit with a "slightly modern twist." But after working for almost 9 months on this festival season, De Les Dernier admits he's most excited about one thing:
"Vacation in August."

The Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival is running through Aug. 4 at Oak Meadow Park. For more information about tickets and the free events, visit www.lgshakes.org.

Adria Murray's society column appears every Sunday in the Los Gatos News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301, or e-mail amurray@dailynewsgroup.com or call 650-327-9090, ext. 328.