Review: Shakespeare in the Park

People gather in Lynndale Park to see a performance
of Shakespeare

By Devon Vose Rickabaugh

We gathered in the dimming woods at Lynndale Park’s Amphitheater in Lynnwood to the sounds of a scolding squirrel and the occasional whine of a mosquito. We brought folding chairs and sought space in the surrounding root-bound dirt. Then bright, young, energetic actors took over the round cement stage at the bottom of the vortex to perform Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream -  the comedy of confusion and high-jinx caused by a masterful David Rollison as Oberon, King of the fairies and carried out with hilarious mischief by Taylor Davis as Puck, his “helper”.  

In ancient Athens, two pairs of lovers have two problems: Lysander and Hermia love each other, but Demetrius also loves Hermia rather than Helena, who loves Demetrius.

Further, Hermia’s father Egeus insists that she marry Demetrius, and Athens’s law supports him. Hermia and Lysander elope into the Athenian woods, followed by Demetrius and Helena. Confusion and danger await, for the woods are a fairyland full of creatures such as the mischief-making Puck.

High School apprentices
Janee Green and Natalie Gress

This performance was one of several of Shakespeare’s plays performed around the Puget Sound area free by two Companies: GreenStage and Wooden O (originally Seattle Shakespeare Company).  This summer’s season is wrapping up, but for further information check the websites GreenStage and Wooden O.

Marketing supervisor for Lynnwood Parks, Recreation and Cultural events Sarah Olson said that $70,000 has been given as matching funds to renovate the amphitheater, making it ADA accessible and restoring some of the natural environment. If there is enough money, two more bleachers would be added ready for next year's Shakespeare in the Park.