The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Newsletter • Spring 2010 Twice Merry: Jim Helsinger Directs & Acts 2010 Season in The Merry Wives of Windsor Romeo and Juliet by Lisa Higgins the memorization, and you’ve seen a variety by William Shakespeare of choices played on lines,” Helsinger says. It’s double the mer- July 21 - August 8 “You’re not in that mystery place of trying to riment in more ways figure out ‘what does that mean?’ than one in Shakespeare’s celebrated comedy about The Merry Wives “As Patrick (Mulcahy, producing artistic two wives who devise director) and I were talking about the possi- of Windsor some novel naughtiness bility of having me act in the production, we by William Shakespeare to foil the advances of an remembered that this is how Shakespeare’s Jim Helsinger July 14 - August 8 over-inflated knight: Jim company did it. There wasn’t a director—the Helsinger takes the reins acting company put it all together.” as director, and he returns as an actor after a seven-year absence from the PSF stage. As a father of young children—Rosalind, 10, and James, 5—Helsinger rarely acts; he The Playboy of the Helsinger will play the role of Master mostly directs. (He directed last season’s A Western World Ford, jealous husband of Mistress Ford, played Midsummer Night’s Dream.) However, last by J.M. Synge by his real-life wife, year, he performed June 16 - July 3 Suzanne O’Donnell. as Dr. Faustus in Though both are Wittenberg—directed veterans of the stage, by Matt Pfeiffer. including PSF, they have not performed The Orlando A Funny Thing together in ten years, Sentinel praised the production and the Happened on the since their first child was born. actor: “Helsinger, Way to the Forum his head shaved Music & Lyrics Artistic direc- clean, plays the tor of the Orlando by Stephen Sondheim Machiavellian like a Shakespeare Theater master: He’s genuine- Book by Burt Shevelove and a frequent direc- ly captivated by the and Larry Gelbart tor at PSF, Helsinger new world of science June 23 - July 11 has directed and per- and psychology, but formed in countless you also sense that productions—but he simply delights in never has he directed being bad.” Robin Hood and acted in the Falstaff’s amorous pursuits of the merry wives by Brandon E. McLauren same production. “It’s leads to hilarious surprises. To say that June 4 - August 7 not something I was Helsinger’s gifts as naturally inclined to do,” he says. “As an actor, an actor have been missed on the PSF boards I really like working with a director because I would be an understatement. Says Mulcahy: like the collaborative process. And as a direc- “Every year, patrons who have seen Jim in Shakespeare for Kids tor, I like working with the whole ensemble.” plays here ask me: ‘is he coming back?’” by Erin Hurley Finally, the answer is ‘yes.’” July 28 - August 7 The addition of Matt Pfeiffer (direc- tor: Dracula and Complete Works... at PSF) as And after a long time taking turns doing associate director helped facilitate the deci- plays, Helsinger and O’Donnell will grace sion. Also, Helsinger has a long history with the stage together again. Their shared per- 610.282.WILL the play as a director, producer, and actor in formance history includes some of the most three different productions. “When you’ve storied roles in theatre: Hamlet and Ophelia, pashakespeare.org done a play before, you have a leg up on continues on page 11 2010 Sponsors Notes from the Producing Artistic Director Festival Host What think you of falling in love? – ROSALIND IN AS YOU LIKE IT Our four main produc- our collective consciousness is exemplified by tions this summer explore the number of films made and attributed to the rolling and rocky land- Shakespeare’s story (77 total), and the number scape of romantic love, each of productions at theatres across the coun- Associate Season Sponsors from its own unique per- try each year. More to the point, the names spective. Legend has it that Romeo and Juliet are considered synonymous Queen Elizabeth charged with young love in its freshness, passion, elec- Shakespeare with writing tricity, danger, and beauty. a play showing one of her Patrick Mulcahy favorite characters, Falstaff, The joy in a season like ours lies in both its breadth—two very different classic in the hunt for love, and The Merry Wives of comedies, a vaudevillian musical farce, and a Windsor was the result. great tragedy, taking us to Verona, Windsor, The Playboy of the Western World, by J.M. Ireland, and ancient Rome—and in the way Synge, takes us on a lilting comedic journey these very different plays shed light from Director Sponsors to western Ireland around the turn of the last different angles on a common human experi- century. The play reveals two unexpected lov- ence: romantic love. Linda Lapos & Paul Wirth ers aching to bridge the divide between them and hoping to transform their hardscrabble These great plays offer vivid reflections experience into a life of fulfillment. of this archetypal aspect of human character. Production Sponsors Romantic love enriches, enlivens, and some- Amaranth Foundation In A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to times perplexes as we learn what we are here the Forum, Hero and Philia are classic, stock to learn on the greater journey. And it is this Steve & Jane Auvil comedic lovers seeking to overcome the (hilar- greater journey that is most richly illumi- ious) situational obstacles that separate them. nated by great classic plays. ALVIN H. BUTZ, INC. Romeo and Juliet is perhaps most So, grab a date or a fellow adventurer, emblematic of the hope and grief associated fasten your seat belt, and enjoy the ride at Dr. & Mrs. Frank J. Szarko with amorous pursuits. Two spirited young PSF this summer. people fall instantly and completely in love, and share every sensation, every nuance of the experience in unparalleled love poetry. That Wills Hall Oblate Community this play takes up such voluminous space in Actor Sponsors Lee & Dolly Butz Shakespearean Insights featured on WDIY 88.1 FM Dr. & Mrs. Frank J. Szarko In a unique partnership with WDIY the practice today 88.1 FM, PSF presents Shakespearean as new satellites are Production Co-Sponsors Insights—a series of 40-second audio mor- discovered. Titania, Air Products sels, airing from mid-May through August Bianca, Desdemona, Keenan-Nagle Advertising, Inc. 7. Patrick Mulcahy is the voice of the and many others Kathleen Kund Nolan & insights, which range from the surprising to keep Juliet’s compa- Timothy Nolan the inspiring. ny as she awaits the discovery of her Romeo Lutron Electronics Company, Inc. in the heavens. For instance, as Juliet anticipates her Orlando Diefenderfer Electrical wedding night, she prays that Romeo will “We are honored to work with WDIY, Contractors, Inc. be immortalized in the stars, to “make the the Lehigh Valley’s community public radio The Rider-Pool Foundation face of heaven so fine that all the world station, to bring this program to listeners. The Spira Family Foundations will be in love with night!” While Romeo It’s win/win/win—we’re able to do outreach WDIY 88.1 FM Lehigh Valley never made it into the celestial book of in a different medium, WDIY is promoted Community Public Radio names, Juliet did, along with a number of to our audience, and listeners get great Shakespeare’s leading ladies and gentlemen. information,” says Mulcahy. Official Photographer In 1851, William Lassell began the The program airs at 10:04 a.m. on Lee A. Butz practice of naming newly discovered satel- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and lites of Uranus after characters in the works at 5:29 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Official Hotel of Shakespeare or Alexander Pope, and the Shakespearean Insights is also available at Holiday Inn Express Bethlehem International Astronomical Union continues pashakespeare.org and WDIYfm.org. 2 • The Quill, Spring 2010 610.282.will Why Romeo and Juliet now? An Interview with Patrick Mulcahy Can you give an example? The beauty of great plays is There were a few moments they are always in style, always in auditions where I heard lines in season. So, now is always a I had never heard before or got good time for a terrific produc- an insight from something an tion of Romeo and Juliet. And, actor did that was new to me. of course, we haven’t done it And I’ve lived with this play for for about 10 years, so there is a 25 years. One of those moments whole generation of people who was when the nurse returns in have not yet had a chance to see the aftermath of the violence a professional production of it that kills Tybalt and Mercutio, here in the valley. and she says, “There’s no trust, No faith, no honesty in men. So what makes it a great play? All perjured, All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.” It’s Shakespeare’s first tragic masterpiece. The lyric love Jo Twiss, who we have poetry is perhaps unparalleled. now cast in the role, found the I think it is also unique in its resonance in that moment, in breadth on the spectrum from those words, of a woman who comedy to tragedy. It’s hard to has glimpsed bits and pieces of name another Shakespeare play human failing before but now that is essentially a comedy for sees the darkness and deception the first half, and then hurtles in humanity with crystal clar- headlong into tragedy.