Arts & Entertainment
Storm Won't Steal Shakespeare in the Park's Thunder
Despite a temporay loss of power and a few downed trees, the show will go on at Starr Jaycee Park.
The set designer for Shakespeare in the Park, Royal Oak's outdoor theater event, arrived Saturday to begin set construction for "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and "Much Ado About Nothing" to find downed branches and limbs throughout Starr Jaycee Park.
"If one of these trees fell," said Josh Parker, set designer, pointing to a half-dozen trees near the stage, "it would have made things difficult."
A loss of power in the park was a small setback, but by Wednesday afternoon Parker and crew were nearly finished with the set.
"The general concept is an old barn interior," Parker said. "It will have an unfinished look. Basically, we just need to hang a few doors, add a facing in the front, a railing around the top and then paint."
Much ado about a storm
Royal Oak's Department of Public Service (DPS) crews worked late last Friday after the storm whipped through Royal Oak knocking out power for approximately 10,500 DTE customers. DPS crews came back on Saturday and are working late this week.DPS Director Greg Rassel said the park will be spruced up well in advance of the opening performance of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" on Aug. 1. None of the downed limbs at the park pose a threat to the stage, restrooms, play structures or picnic areas at this time, he said.
The city received phone calls to pickup downed branches and limbs on city property at some 55 locations.
The cleanup effort is being done on a priority basis. For parks, that means cleaning up ball fields first so as not to disrupt the Royal Oak Sandlot League schedule.
For more information about Shakespeare in the Park, including show times and tickets, visit www.waterworkstheatre.com/shakespeare-in-the-park.html
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