Goodly Creatures’ Shakespeare in the Park aims to be accessible to all

Making Shakespeare accessible to everyone is the goal of Goodly Creatures, a regional touring theater company that has staged Shakespeare in the Park performances in the suburbs since 2021.

This year’s show is “As You Like It,” with free performances scheduled in Geneva, Schaumburg, Elgin and Algonquin.

“We lovingly call our Shakespeare in the Park experience ‘Disney Shakespeare,’” said Goodly’s CEO Katrina Syrris, who founded the company in 2018 with the mission to bring classic works to life on stage in modern and relevant ways.

In a voluntary survey last summer, Goodly discovered that 54% of respondents had not experienced Shakespeare in the Park prior to their performance. So their productions are adapted to appeal to a wide range of viewers.

“We cut the play strategically to prioritize plot and memorable quotes to keep the play under two hours,” Syrris said. “We also embrace expressive acting and physical comedy to illustrate characters boldly. We also introduce the characters and the plot prior to the performance as a ‘Who’s Who’ for newcomers.”

According to Syrris, in “As You Like It,” the plot centers around comedic couples.

“An evil Duke usurps his honorable and beloved brother from his throne,” Syrris said of the plot. “The evil duke is paranoid, and that paranoia causes him to banish his niece, Rosalind, from the dukedom. This evil duke’s own daughter, Celia, refuses to let her cousin face banishment alone and so they both escape to the Forest of Arden, where they encounter people from the country, who live much freer lives than that of courtiers. Rosalind opts to disguise herself as a man, Ganymede, for safety and they make a home for themselves there with their court’s fool, Touchstone, who’s opted to go with them on their journey. In their own ways, they each discover new friends, new cultures, and a new way to live life.

“Meanwhile,” Syrris said, “a feud is tearing apart the sons of Sir Rowland when the eldest brother, Oliver, refuses to support his youngest, brother, Orlando, because he is envious of Orlando’s talents and popularity. This drives Orlando into the Forest of Arden for refuge. Romances blossom, and personal transformations abound as fate turns everyone’s expectations upside down.”

The performances will be the same at each venue, Syrris said, and the first one takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Island Park in Geneva. Syrris shares a few tips for attendees at any of the shows.

“Bring a picnic and arrive early for the best seating,” she said. “Bring a folding chair or blanket. It’s also a good idea, if you’re totally new to The Bard, to check out our digital program with resources to enjoy the show, including synopsis, character breakdowns, and relationship map.”

The show runs an hour and 45 minutes with no intermission. For details, visit goodlycreatures.com/this-years-shakespeare-in-the-park.

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Goodly Creatures’ Shakespeare in the Park production of ‘As You Like it’

Performances are free unless otherwise noted.

Geneva: 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, Island Park, Routes 38 and 25. Rain date is 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8.

Schaumburg: 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Meineke Park, 220 E. Weathersfield Way. Rain date is 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.

Elgin: Two performances are scheduled: 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at Lords Park, Picnic Shelter East, 325 Hiawatha Drive; and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Wing Park Bandshell, 1010 Wing St. Rain date for both is 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Wing Park Bandshell.

Algonquin: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Algonquin Bandshell, Towne Park, 100 Jefferson St. Rain date is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Elgin Community College: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, SecondSpace Theater, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive. Encore performance and fundraiser for Elgin Community College Homecoming Celebration. $50.