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"A howler, a hoot, a full-filled romp!"— Berkshire Edge
"The magic of Shakespeare is at The Dell at The Mount...a delightful farce." —Berkshire Fine Arts
A life of scholarship is in store for Navarre, where the King and his courtiers have made an oath renouncing worldly pleasures and commanding all the townsfolk of Navarre to do the same. But when the Princess of France and her ladies arrive on a diplomatic visit, the King and his friends find the enticements of summer love more powerful than they had imagined.
A spoof of those who try to shun love and life, Love’s Labor’s Lost is full of witty wordplay, hilarious mishaps, and riotous comedy. The Dell is the perfect setting for this sweet coming-of-age story, with its host of delightful characters and sparkling depiction of young love.
Generously sponsored by Natalie and Howard Shawn.
Rain Policy
From time to time weather may affect your enjoyment of the performance in the outdoor at The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home. Most often the show will go on and depending on the severity of the rain, will be performed as scheduled.
Performances at the Mount may be held for 20 minutes to see if the rain will let up.
Plot Summary
“Our court shall be a little Academe”
The King of Navare and his courtiers Berowne, Dumaine, and Longaville have made an oath to live a life of study for three years. To do so, they’ll put aside all wordly pleasures, including any thoughts of love. The King’s edict applies to all of the people of Navarre, and includes a rule that forbids women to come within a mile of the court. Berowne expresses his skepticism about such a plan, but his loyalty to the King prevails and he signs his name to the vow.
“A letter from the magnificent Armado”
Meanwhile, Don Adriano de Armado, a loquacious scholar from Spain, reports that Costard, a local youth, has been talking in the park with Jaquenetta, a country girl, in clear defiance of the King's new rules. The King and his courtiers reprimand Costard and put him into Armado’s custody.
Later, Armado confesses to his pageboy Moth, that he, not Costard, is actually in love with Jaquenetta. Against his better judgment— and the King’s edict—he writes her a love sonnet and demands that Costard deliver it to her.
The people of Navarre adjust to a life of study, some more easily than others. The self-satisfied scholar Holofernes and the --pious pastor Sir Nathaniel, in particular, embrace the opportunity to live a scholarly life—and to enlighten the other townspeople with their learning, whether they like it or not.
“Fair princess, welcome to the Court of Navarre”
The Princess of France and her enchanting ladies arrive on a diplomatic mission regarding a dispute over the region of Aquitaine. Because of the edict the women are forced to camp a mile away; but upon meeting the ladies, the King and his courtiers find their dedication to the scholars’ life on shaky ground.
Each man confesses his ardor to the audience, and writes his own love letter to the lady of his affection…but as love letters begin to travel around Navarre, the King, Berowne, Dumaine, Longaville, and even Armado are revealed to have broken their vows.
“Shall we resolve to woo these girls of France?”
The men decide to overthrow their oaths and woo the ladies of France. First, they disguise themselves as Muscovites to trick the ladies, but the ladies, having word of the prank from their courtier Boyet, pay them back by trading clothes and pretending to be each other. Chaos, confusion, and hilarity ensue, until the eight lovers’ true identities are revealed.
“The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of Apollo. You that way: we this way.”
The townspeople join together to present a play for the nobility and everyone enjoys the entertainment. But shocking news calls the ladies back to France, leaving the future uncertain.
fourth season S&Co: Lysander/Flute (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, NE Regional Tour), Brabantio/Montano/Lodovico (Othello), Judah (Wonders of the Invisible World), Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Romeo (Romeo & Juliet), Rick/Jean Luc (Marcus is Walking); Other credits: Calvin (REALLY; WAM Theatre), Governor Prudblood (Waste, Fraud and Abuse; Screaming Majority), Seymour
moreS&Co: Rosaline, Love's Labor's Lost; Hermia, A Midsummer Night's Dream; Elaria, The Emperor of the Moon; Katharine/Boy, Henry V; Northeast Regional Tours of Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth; Celie, Les Faux Pas; Ensemble, King Lear; Columbina, The Venetian Twins; SLaW. Caroline teaches in S&Co's Education
morefirst season. Emily is delighted to make her Shakespeare & company debut in Love's Labor's Lost. Raised in Boston, she earned her BFA in Acting at Boston University. Credits include: Grace, Baltimore, New Repertory Theatre BCAP), Tottles, Peter Pan, Wheelock Family Theatre, Narrator, Charlotte's Web, Wheelock Family Theatre,
morefifth season (Holofernes, Love’s Labor’s Lost; Riotous Youth Faculty) S&Co: Egeus (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Doctor (Emperor of the Moon); Frank (Private Eyes); Shakespeare & the Language that Shaped a World (2016-2018); Fall Festival of Shakespeare Director (2013- 2017). Regional: Dionyza, Pericles; Mistress Ford, Merry Wives of Windsor;
morethirteenth season Rory is pleased to be back at her home Shakespeare & Company. Last summer she played Kacie in Ugly Lies the Bone. NY credits: Pericles (SoHo Rep), Measure for Measure, Bachelorette (Circle in the Square), Where’s My Money (Cherry Lane Theatre), and The Scarlet
moreS&Co: Lysander/Flute, (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Paris/Prince/Gregory, (Romeo & Juliet), Boris (St. Petersburg: 1913, Winter Studio Festival of Plays), Gerald (Marcus is walking, Joan Ackermann: One Playwright, One Weekend). Aglet Theater Company: Tom (These Shining Lives). Berkshire Historical Society: Pierre, Jones, Lawyer, Israel Potter’s Son (Melville on the
more(Ensemble, Love’s Labor’s Lost; Education Intern) Fiona Herter is thrilled to be returning to Shakespeare & Company after an amazing summer with Shakespeare & Young Company last year, where she played Hamlet in Hamlet. Prior to this, she played Perdita in Eggtooth Production’s immersive production of The Winter’s
moreeighth season (Grumio/Widow, Taming of the Shrew; Riotous Youth Faculty) S&Co NE Regional Tour: Gertrude/Gravedigger, Hamlet; Baptista/Grumio/Widow, Taming of the Shrew; Emilia/Roderigo, Othello; Helena/Quince, Midsummer. Other S&Co: Hippolyta/Snug, Midsummer; Mopsophil, Emperor of the Moon; Smeraldina, The Servant of Two Masters; Elmire, Tartuffe; Pisanio, Cymbeline. Has proudly been an
morethird season (Costume Designer, Love’s Labor’s Lost) S&CO: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, NE Regional Tour (Designer), The Tempest (Asst. Costume Designer), Or, (Asst. Costume Designer); Other: When She Had Wings, Long Wharf Theater Education Dept. (Designer); The Hunchback of Seville, Union College (Designer). B.A. Theater, minors: English
morefourth season S&Co: Elizabeth Darcy, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberly; Helena/Cobweb, A Midsummer Night’s Dream; S&Co Regional Tour: Lady Capulet/Benvolio, Romeo & Juliet; The Humanist Project: Lavinia, Titus Andronicus. Madeleine completed the 2 year professional course at L’École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris and is a
moresecond season. S&Co: Bingley (Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, staged reading). Berkshire Theatre Group: Harold Hill (The Music Man), Bob Cratchit (A Christmas Carol), Ben Marino (Fiorello!), Joey (The Homecoming), Bert (Mary Poppins). Other area credits include The Old Mezzo with WAM Theatre, You Can’t Take
morefourth season S&Co: Theseus (A Midsummer Nights Dream), Dumaine (Love's Labor's Lost), Rob (Never Not Once, a reading). Devante is an Education Artist at S&Co and has spent the past two summers as a Riotous Youth intern. He is also a recent graduate from Coastal Carolina University in South
moresecond season (Bianca, Taming of the Shrew) S&Co: Moth (Love’s Labour’s Lost); Bella is thrilled to be back for her second summer at S&Co, she holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Boston University and has an endless amount of love for her family, boyfriend and those that have
moreS&Co: Don Armado Love's Labor's Lost, Demetruis A Midsummer Night's Dream. Tom is currently studying theater at UMass Amherst. Tom grew up in the Berkshires and has spent time training at Shakespeare & Company and has been an active part of the Berkshire’s theater community. In 2015,
morefourth season (Voice and Text, Dialect Coach, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Heisenberg, Training Faculty.) Vocal Coaching/S&Co: Cymbeline, Intimate Apparel, The Merchant of Venice, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Or, Ugly Lies the Bone, Comedy of Errors, The Unexpected Man, Hamlet, Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World. Vocal
morethird season. S&Co: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Starveling, Philostrate), Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World, Emperor of the Moon (Dara, Cupid). Regional: The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s Young Playwrights Festival. Dara has four times directed in Shakespeare & Company’s Fall Festival of Shakespeare, and twice
moreseventh season (Scenic Designer, Love’s Labor’s Lost; Props Master) Hailing from Westborough, Massachusetts, scenic designer, production designer and props master Devon Drohan has been involved in technical theater since the age of eight, when she first assisted her aunt, a co-founder of Central Massachusetts-based Calliope Productions, with
moreeleventh season Kelly has worked as a director, teacher, and actor with Shakespeare & Company since 2008. Most recently with S&Co she directed The Taming of the Shrew, Love’s Labor’s Lost, and served on the faculty of the Shakespeare & Young Company Summer Conservatory. She served as Artistic
morefirst season (Composer, Love’s Labor’s Lost) Composer and music director for Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park, four seasons, and Riggs Theatre 37 since 2004. Her music for The Caucasian Chalk Circle was featured in Kelly Galvin’s production at Boston University.
morethird season (Stage Manager, Love’s Labor’s Lost; Assistant Stage Manager, Mothers and Sons; Electrician) This is her third time returning to Shakespeare & Company, and she is excited to spend the summer celebrating Shakespeare’s works in the Berkshires again! She is a graduate from Plymouth State University
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Shakespeare & Company is a professional live theatre company in the heart of the Berkshires, presenting a vibrant summer performance season featuring the works of Shakespeare in repertory with classic and contemporary plays. The Company offers one of the most extensive actor training programs by a regional theatre in the country, and is also home to an award-winning and nationally recognized theatre-in-education program.