Love’s Labour’s Lost Takes Shape 🎭

Actors William Cagle, Faryn Thomure, Rachel Ka’iulani Kennealy, Diego Hardy, & Euan Ashley.

As we move into summer, we are deep in preparations for our 26th season in Old Mill Park Amphitheatre in Mill Valley.

We just held our first read through of this year’s adaptation of Love’s Labour’s Lost. I’ve wanted to produce this lesser-known comedy of Shakespeare’s for many years, and we are thrilled for the chance to share it with you this August and September as we continue to bring fresh, free, classic theatre to Mill Valley.

This year’s show opens as the King of Navarre persuades three companions to join him in a three-year quest to avoid women and devote themselves to study. Their vow is immediately tested by the arrival of the Princess of France and her ladies, as each man quickly falls in love. This production explores how the vows of the King and his entourage–from intermittent fasting to celibacy to “maxxing” their minds and bodies–resonate with the current manosphere, while the princess and her posse just want to get down to business and have a good time doing it.

Actors Diego Hardy & Euan Ashley.

It was wonderful hearing the actors give voice to the play in a space overlooking the stage, provided by the Mill Valley Library. There’s something magical about hearing a very old joke land, or a love poem spoken across centuries by a new voice, and this play is filled with both. It was perhaps especially an especially auspicious moment, as this will be Curtain’s first production with myself and Lindsey in our new roles as the company’s Artistic and Managing Directors.

We have many artists returning to share their talents, including Robert Horek, who designed last year’s costumes, and Don Clark and Steve Coleman, who will, respectively, continue to provide music and set designs as they have for many years with Curtain Theatre. The cast itself features a number of familiar faces and many actors who are new to the company.

We look forward to sharing with you our process in bringing this rambunctious play to the stage, and can’t wait to see you in the park later this summer!

For now, to borrow from the Bard:
Thine, in the dearest design of industry,
Doyle Ott, Artistic Director

Set model by Steve Coleman.