Untitled Document
More than gore
Titus Andronicus, one of
William Shakespeare’s earliest and bloodiest tragedies, opens this
weekend at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Shakespeare paints a grisly
picture of politics in this tale of revenge pitting Titus Andronicus, a
Roman warrior, against his archenemy, Tamora, queen of the Goths. Titus
kills one of Tamora’s sons to avenge the deaths of his own sons in
war. The killings set off a brutal spiral of payback between the two
families and their acquaintances. The play will be performed at the
festival seven times through Aug. 8. The ISF repertory for this summer also
includes The Taming of the Shrew and The Complete Works of
William Shakespeare (Abridged).
Thu. & Fri.July 17 & 18
Titus Andronicus
Ewing Manor, Bloomington
www.thefestival.org
7:30 p.m. Thu., 8 p.m., Fri.
$24-$40 individual; group
discounts
available
Not an animal
Joseph Merrick suffered from a disorder that caused
his body to become grossly deformed. So hideous was his appearance that he
was driven away by his own family and forced to work as a sideshow freak.
For much of his short life Merrick was the victim of abuse and intolerance,
but through the intervention of a physician, Dr. Frederick Treves, he was
able to secure safe quarters at London Hospital. Eventually he became
something of a celebrity when members of the British royal family took an
interest in his welfare. Merrick’s story was the raw material for the
1979 Tony-winning play The Elephant Man, which opens this Friday at Theatre in the Park.
Springfield resident Matthew Husky portrays Merrick, and Bruce Davidson
depicts Treves; Valerie Parga directs.
Fri.-Sun. July 18-20
(and July 24-26)
The Elephant Man
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site,
Petersburg
www.theatreinthepark.net
8 p.m.
$12; seniors $10, kids $7
Corny
In Illinois, corn is king, and this weekend you can
pay homage to our lord and master at the 35th Annual Chatham Jaycees
Sweetcorn Festival. On Friday the festivities include a beauty pageant and
live entertainment. Saturday’s schedule features the Tour de Corn
bike ride, followed by an afternoon of blues presented by the Illinois
Central Blues Club, a washers tournament, and the Illinois Championship Cow
Chip Throw. The Groove Daddies and F5 rock Saturday night away. While
you’re there, sample the reason for the party: corn, dripping with
butter and grilled in the husk.
Fri. & Sat. July 18
& 19
35th Annual Chatham Jaycees Sweetcorn Festival
Chatham Community Park, Chatham
www.chathamjaycees.net
5 p.m.-midnight Fri.,
7:30 a.m.-midnight Sat.
Smell the roses
The University of Illinois Extension’s
Sangamon-Menard Master Gardeners’ “Evening in the Garden”
isn’t just a leisurely stroll through the garden; it’s also a
sale where area green thumbs can pick up new equipment. The party features
walks through the Identification Garden, the Herb Garden, turfgrass plots,
and the Lorraine DeSouza Perennial Garden. Master gardeners dressed as
giant garden gnomes (OK, just kidding) will be available to answer
questions. If you can handle excitement, be sure to check out the compost
bins in the demonstration area. The sale features planters, flowers, vases,
baskets, and garden tools.
Thursday July 17
Evening in the Garden
Building No. 30, Illinois State Fairgrounds
217-782-4617
5-7:30 p.m.
Free
This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2008.
