“It is just such a joy to get to share Shakespeare with our community every year.”
This from Bard in the Valley’s vice-president following what Dylan Coulter described as a challenging but rewarding summer run of “A Winter’s Tale.”
“Yes, it was a great run.”
Wrapping up its 14th year, Bard in the Valley (BIV) theatrical group presents annual Shakespearean play in various outdoor forums around Langley each summer.
This year, their production was hosted first at Township 7 Winery, then in the City of Langley at Douglas Park Spirit Square.
“We are thrilled to see so many local patrons in the city come to take in free theatre in the park, and I was so excited to share this show in particular,” Coulter said.
“This year is the first time in a few years that I haven’t been on stage performing, and I loved being able to chat with patrons in the audience, to discuss the play and their interpretations of it,” said Coulter, who noted even before they wrapped this latest production, work was already underway on next year’s summer show, as well as a new winter event.
Auditions will be held in early February for next summer’s showing of “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” a classic Shakespearean comedy which is being directed by Coulter.
“This play is as close to a farce as you get in Shakespeare, with lots of slapstick and comedic moments all surrounding the attempted wooing of two wives by the outlandish John Falstaff, who has many pranks played on him as he seeks to ingratiate himself with the wealthy women of the town. His ridiculous retinue of followers get themselves into trouble as well, and the story ends with some poignant ruminations on love,” he explained.
While work continues behind the scenes for next summer's show, Bard in the Valley is turning much of its attention now to a Shakespearean-themed original production called “Rotten in the State of Denmark,” written and directed by BIV’s Darcy J. Knopp.
This original play will show at the Fort Langley Community Hall from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2.
“It’s a play based in modern time with modern language, but as the title might suggest, parallels much of the story of Hamlet,” said Bryan Cutler, production manager of this past summer’s show.
“After speaking with Darcy on the phone… he told me he wrote the play before the pandemic and that it included a world where there was a war waging in Europe and lots of division, which as time progressed, actually became a very real reality. I thought that was really interesting, and I think it will add to the reality and connection to character for the audience,” said Cutler.
Open auditions for the January show began this weekend. Those interested in auditioning can do so online at: bardinthevalley.com/audition.