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Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Shake at the Lake opens with goofed-up ‘Servant of Two Masters’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The farce is with Shake at the Lake, even if the Bard himself is nowhere to be found. Georgia Shakespeare’s annual al fresco springtime outing on the dock at Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park kicked off Wednesday night with a goofed-up version of “The Servant of Two Masters,” a farce by Carlo Goldoni.
Piedmont Park has been off-limits to large events like the Peachtree Road Race of late because of the drought. But Shake at the Lake is restricted to under 1,000 people per night, only a few on grass, so it’s allowed.
“I’ve come every year. It’s just amazing,” said Dayna Holbel, a stay-at-home mom from Morningside, who showed up at at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning to get her tickets. “The sun going down, the water behind it, everybody’s really sweet and sharing wine.”
Like Chastain Park on a more intimate, less intricate scale, Shake at the Lake is about pre-show picnicking as well as the play itself. Mary Wellington and five friends brought wine, salads and deviled eggs stuffed with spicy hummus; many who showed up opted for carry-out subs or pizza.
“I enjoy the Shakespeare,” said Wellington, “but this is not Shakespeare.” She wasn’t complaining, but the “Servant” trotted out here is re-written in the extreme, with Miley Cyrus jokes and a record number of deliberate mispronunciations of Dahlonega. Since hardly anyone has seen the original play, hardly anyone can take offense at Georgia Shakespeare’s liberties.
For those wanting to try it through Sunday, the Shake rules must be obeyed. Tickets are free, but they are only available the day of the show to people who come in person to the visitor’s center at Piedmont Park. The handouts start at 10 a.m., the line starts earlier. No lawn chairs, pets, Frisbees, or anything that makes noise is allowed; coolers are cool, but keep them small.
More info: www.shakeatthelake.com • Map it and review it
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New Chairman at Woodruff Arts Center
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Woodruff Arts Center approved a new chairman today: Phil Kent, CEO of Turner Broadcasting.
Kent replaces Neil Williams, who has been chair since 2002. Williams, a retired partner of the law firm Alston & Bird was honored for his 36 years of volunteer service to the Woodruff Arts Center and one of its organizations, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. (He became involved in the symphony’s governance after singing in its choir.)
The Woodruff — or WAC, as some fondly call it — is Atlanta’s biggest arts organization by far. It’s the parent of not only the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra but the High Museum, Alliance Theatre and the youth arts education group Young Audiences.
Kent comes to the position with a wealth of experience managing a big organization with multiple divisions. At Turner, he oversees one of the biggest programming empires in cable TV. The Atlanta-based subsidiary of Time Warner includes CNN, Headline News, TBS, TNT, truTV (formerly Court TV) and the Cartoon Network, among its 40 networks throughout the world.
Any thoughts about what should be on Kent’s to-do list at the Woodruff?
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Story-time for Grown-ups
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wordsmiths Books in Decatur continues to come up with awesome-sounding new promotions. Like this one.
Tonight, Wordsmiths is offering its first “Story-time for Grown-ups.” It brings together Will and Benji, who are Open Mic night regulars, and decribed by Wordsmiths as “a little off-color, a little offensive;” the Kennesaw State University Regulars, who are billed as very much in the same vein; and author Ben Tanzer.
Milk will not be served, but adult libations will. No nap mats will be provided, but you can sprawl on the floor if there’s room. Sounds like a blast. 7:30 tonight at Wordsmiths, which is on Decatur Square.
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