KIDS/SNEAK PEEK : HELPING FAMILIES GET IN GEER FOR SHAKESPEARE OUTDOORS.Ask your kids this: Who is Puck? If they answer ``the smelly bike messenger of MTV's ``The Real World 3,'' it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for a trip to the Will Geer Will Geer (born 9 March 1902 in Frankfort, Indiana – died 22 April 1978 in Los Angeles) was an American actor. Geer's real name was William Auge Ghere. He is best known for his portrayal of the character Grandpa Walton, in the popular 1970s TV series Theatricum Botanicum The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, named for the English botanist John Parkinson's herbal, Theatrum Botanicum (1640), is an open-air theater founded in Topanga Canyon, near Santa Monica, California by Will Geer in 1973. in rustic Topanga Canyon. For the fourth summer season, the Theatricum presents a family friendly version of William Shakespeare's ``A Midsummer Night's Dream A Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare written sometime in the 1590s. It portrays the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with the Duke and Duchess of Athens, Theseus and Hippolyta, and ,'' featuring the mischievous pixie Puck. This year, three generations of the Geer family - nine actors from ages 6 to 80 - will appear in the magical comedy, including Ellen Geer, daughter of the late Will Geer (best-known as Grandpa on ``The Waltons''), who plays the Fairy Queen The Fairy Queen was a figure from English folklore who was believed to rule the fairies. Based on Shakespeare's influence, she is often named as Titania. Various things have been named after her:
``We've discovered that `Dream' really fills a need,'' says Geer, who is also the Theatricum's artistic director. ``It makes for a thoroughly positive family adventure, which I've been told is better than an amusement park amusement park, a commercially operated park offering various forms of entertainment, such as arcade games, carousels, roller coasters, and performers, as well as food, drink, and souvenirs. : The theater becomes a place for adults and kids of all ages to come together and let their imaginations go.'' And it's hard to imagine a better place to see the play, especially for kids experiencing it for the first time. The outdoor Theatricum is nestled in an oak-dotted location that easily doubles for Shakespeare's enchanted forest In literature, an enchanted forest is a forest under, or containing, enchantments. Such forests are described in the oldest folklore from regions where forests are common, and occur throughout the centuries to modern works of fantasy. . ``Dream'' completes the Theatricum's popular summer season. It opens Aug. 29 and plays at 8 p.m. Fridays and 7:30 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 14. There is also a special Labor Day performance at 5 p.m. Sept. 1. The amphitheater is at 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Tickets are $15 for adults ($12 for the upper tier); $10 for seniors, students and members of Actors Equity ($8 for the upper tier); and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Bring sweaters - it can get chilly in the canyon - and cushions to soften the stadium seating. Picnickers are welcome before and after performances, or food can be purchased at the Ole Mole Kitchen, a takeout Mexican cafe on the premises. Call (310) 455-3723 for information and reservations. Pop goes the easel Pop Goes the Easel (1935) is the 7th of Columbia Pictures' 190 short subjects starring the comedy team of the Three Stooges. Plot The Stooges are looking for a job. However, they are mistaken as thieves and soon find themselves on the run from the police. Children can learn the art of making pop-up books Saturday at Storyopolis Art Gallery and Bookstore workshop in Los Angeles. Staged in cooperation with Los Angeles-based InterVisual books, publisher of several pop-ups, the workshop will allow kids to create their own mini pop-ups. Cost is $6 per participant for the 11:30 a.m. workshop. Storyopolis is at 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Plaza A. Call (310) 358-2512 for reservations. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Ellen Geer plays the Fairy Queen in ``A Midsummer Night's Dream'' at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon. |
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