Summer Shakespeare on the Lawn: Love’s Labour’s Lost

Lincroft, NJ – Pack up a lawn chair and bring your picnic basket to Brookdale’s annual Summer Shakespeare on the Lawn performance. This year, students and community members will perform Shakespeare’s early comedy, Love’s Labour’s Lost, on the great lawn at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft campus.

Performances are held on July 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20 at 7 pm; and July 14 and 21 at 6 pm. Admission is free to all.

On July 18, a complimentary dessert will be served to attendees to celebrate Brookdale’s birthday and a picnic contest will be held to determine the best picnic set-up. The winner of the contest will receive a prize.

The play, first performed in 1597, opens with the King of Navarre and three noble companions, Berowne, Dumaine, and Longaville, taking an oath to devote themselves to three years of study, promising not to give in to the company of women—Berowne somewhat more hesitantly than the others. Berowne reminds the king that the princess and her three ladies are coming to the kingdom and it would be nearly impossible for the King to agree to this law.

The King denies what Berowne says, insisting that the ladies make their camp in the field outside of his court. The King and his men meet the princess and her ladies and, not surprisingly, they all fall comically in love. The play is wrought with many comedic subplots and is characteristic of Shakespeare’s wit, mastery of language and unusual plot twists.

The cast list is as follows:

Paul Brahney, Ocean, as Nathaniel; Caitlin Chelednik, Belmar, as the Princess of France; Stephen Dobbins, Howell, as Berowne; Daniel Escobar, Long Branch, as Don Armado; Christopher Friedel, Rumson, as Longaville; Sam Giustiniani, Laurence Harbor, as Boyet; Cody Goold, Union Beach, as Holofernes; Ashley Green, Matawan, as Moth; Carolyn Hodge, Red Bank, as Katherine; Anthony Holiday, Aberdeen, as Costard; Juliana Marron, Matawan, Jaquenetta; AJ Melnick, Wall, as Marcade/Kings Attendant/Forester; Mary Myers, Howell, as Marie; Anthony Potter, Middletown, as Dumainee; Kenneth Richlin, Long Branch, as King Ferdinand of Navarre; Jack Santoro, Howell, as Anthony Dull, and Audra Taliercio, Colts Neck, as Rosaline.

Theater Professor John Bukovec will direct and Sherri Vanderspiegel, supervisor of the Performing Arts Center, will provide the technical direction.

Bring the entire family to Summer Shakespeare on the Lawn at Brookdale Community College. For more information, please call the Performing Arts Center Box Office at (732) 224-2411.

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