Shakespeare today

Camp Shakespeare returns to a battered but not broken Crystal

A bit of unexpected remodeling won't stop the show. The curtain parts at 3:30 p.m. today, admission is free, and the air conditioning is promised to be working. The recent construction shows the need for local support and donations to keep the shoestring Crystal Theatre and its programs going.

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Shakespeare Ninja Ben DeMent has been rehearsing with veteran actors at Winedale the past two weeks for his performance today in “The Comedy of Errors.”

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The Shakespeare Ninjas have been on tour this week, making the rounds in the lead up of today's performance at the Crystal Theatre. Here, young actors Miguel Moreno, Priscilla Angel, and Ruby Hamilton advertise the upcoming events at the theatre.

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Posted Thursday, June 21, 2018 8:02 am

IF YOU GO

What: Camp Shakespeare

When: Today, 3:30 p.m.

Where: The Crystal Theatre

The play: The Comedy of Errors

Price: Free!

Details: A play in two acts with intermission. Expected duration 1 hour 45 minutes.

By Erik McCowan

erik.mccowan@gonzalesinquirer.com

The rains that got this week off to a soggy start should set a good mood for today's performance in the Crystal Theatre. Some of William Shakespeare's best works require a little gloom, but now that the sun has returned, it is the perfect setting for “The Comedy of Errors,” which features some of Gonzales' youngest actors at 3:30 p.m. today at the town's lone performance space.

Currently, the theater itself looks the part of Shakespeare's home theatre, The Globe, with its exposed wooden rafters due to a bit of remodeling after the recent hail storm. But no worries, says theatre director Barbara Crozier, for the talent is fresh and trained and ready to impress this small-town crowd.

The second best part about today's performance? It's free.  To recap: three Gonzales students have been away this week at the prestigious Shakespeare at Winedale theatre camp up in Fayette County. Ben DeMent, Avalon Palm, and Danny Blair have been at the University of Texas led instructional camp learning all about their parts and the finer points of stage acting from veteran thespians. Today is when they make their hometown debut with all their new friends from the week.

The Crystal Theatre is celebrating a couple of milestones. First, the current incarnation of the theatre is celebrating its 35th year. Its summer acting and performance workshop is crossing the 25 year mark, and the Shakespeare Ninja troupe is turning 8. This summer has proved challenging, with the hail damage requiring a new roof replacement and now the complete tear out of the old ceiling — which is why you will notice the exposed wood and duct work today — but the kids, teachers, directors, and parents all have been working overtime to make sure that another summer Shakespeare season goes off without a hitch.

For as they say, the show must go on!