Out & About
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Where Art Thou, Benefactors? To See ‘Romeo and Juliet’
The Shakespeare in the Park opening night gala is the one big-deal fund-raiser in New York that is truly a family event. Sure, there were business and social pals — as well as celebrities — hobnobbing outside the Delacorte Theater on Tuesday, but there were also sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters.
A board member of the Public Theater, the presenter of Shakespeare in the Park, Andrea Bernstein, was proud to introduce her son, Sam, and daughter, Lee. Susan, and Donald Newhouse had all three of their children at their table: Steven, Kathy, and Michael.
The closeness of the family ties on view was a slightly ironic juxtaposition to the theme of the production, “Romeo and Juliet,” in which family feuds tear the lovers apart and bring them to their end.
But thoughts of Shakespeare stayed mostly cheerful during the preperformance festivities, at which Public Theater board member Robert Pittman and was honored.
Actress Debra Messing said, “Shakespeare makes everything grander, more romantic, more passionate, bolder, and more colorful.”
The performance of Lauren Ambrose as Juliet certainly made good on that promise.
“She’s cracked it. She’s great at language, she has the passion, and she looks like a Renaissance beauty. The thing about Lauren is she understands that to really have meaning you have to have the rhythm of what’s being said,” the artistic director and founder of Shakespeare & Company, Tina Packer, said. “Even if the word is a word we haven’t used, she conveys the meaning. She has the emotions and passions and brainpower to do it.”
Ms. Ambrose did an intensive Shakespeare training program at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Mass., and worked with Ms. Packer before her audition for the role. Other actors who have worked with Ms. Packer in preparation for Shakespearean roles include Sigourney Weaver, Keanu Reeves, and Alicia Silverstone.
The commissioner of Parks and Recreation for New York City, Adrian Benepe, also has a way with Shakespeare’s words. “I quote from it constantly when dealing with staff,” Mr. Benepe said, adding that he acted in high school in “The Tempest” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” in which he played, auspiciously, the King of the Forest.
One of Mr. Benepe’s favorite lines is, “Now is the summer of our discontent,” a play on the opening lines of “Richard III.”
“Summer is easy for New Yorkers but we have to take care of the pools and the beaches,” Mr. Benepe said.
