Bard's Bus Tour 2017: For its 23rd annual Bard's Bus Tour, Driftwood Theatre presents "Othello".
Except for Shakespeare in High Park, most of the Shakespeare outdoor plays advertised during the summer are performed by Driftwood Theatre. One day at Withrow Park, what I mistook for a flea market clothing sale was actually the actors' costume rack. The attention of other passers-by was caught and we all decided to join in the crowd already following the outdoor play. I watched a little boy strolling along the park's path, unaware a Shakespeare play was taking place right next to it. The actor's voices were strong, which was a good thing with all those cicadas singing in the background! Some spectators came fully equipped to enjoy the show. The man in front of me brought his folding chair and coffee in a thermos. A mother of three was offering an endless supply of snacks to her kids. Babies were quietly sleeping in their parent's arms. There was even a master petting a happy dog by his side. Parks offer the perfect setting for Shakespeare plays. We could see Othello coming from the grass field, which added a realistic touch. Later on, as the scenes unfolded, we watched a naughty Casio run after a playful Bianca in the far-away background. Driftwood Theatre performs in many more places around the GTA, from Brantford to Kingston (28 locations on 2016). You'll see the full summer schedule on their website. In 2016, they are producing The Taming of the Shrew.
