Homeless dogs, rotten tomatoes, and Shakespeare. What??? Recreating the performance conditions of Shakespeare’s day, The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory is performing Two Gentlemen of Verona throughout November and December with dogs, rotten tomatoes, and all. Premiering Friday, November 9th, 7:30 p.m., the production will include an adoptable canine from Baltimore Humane Society as part of its acting troupe, mimicking the way it was performed back in Shakespeare’s time.
The comedic play, believed to be Shakespeare’s first play, focuses on the theme of friendship and love. The highlight of the play is the relationship between Launce and his dog, Crab. It is often viewed as the unselfish love story of the play. The homeless dog from Baltimore Humane Society who plays Crab is also playing out a real life story of love and friendship. The Shakespeare Factory’s mission is not only portraying Shakespeare’s plays in their original format; it has chosen to use adoptable dogs in their plays to showcase them and help find them loving homes. In fact, the troupe's actors have taken special training classes at Baltimore Humane Society to prepare for the show.
To add to the fun, the acting company not only recreates the performance conditions of Shakespeare’s day, but the rehearsal conditions as well! The actors gather, WITHOUT a Director, for only 5 rehearsals before the show opens. The audience is armed with tomatoes (of the stress ball variety) to throw should the actors forget their lines!
Assuming the role of “Man’s Best Friend” this weekend will be Benson. Four year old Benson was brought to Baltimore Humane Society because his owners had a young child and new baby and felt it was too much to keep him. He is a sweet boy who enjoys being around people, running and jumping around, and lying on your lap.
The Shakespeare Factory is committed to helping both Benson and all the homeless animals at Baltimore Humane Society. It is doing all it can to get them adopted including a full page “actor’s bio” in the playbill and maintaining a B’more Humane information table at all the shows.
Two Gentlemen of Verona will be performed beginning November 8th-11th and November 16th -18th at the The Great Hall Theatre, St. Mary's Outreach Center, 3900 Roland Avenue, Baltimore. It will also be performed at Boordy Vineyards at 2 p.m. on December 2nd, 9th, and 16th.
For more information or tickets visit theshakespearefactory.com. Anyone who sees Benson or any other Baltimore Humane Society actors will get half off the adoption fee if they mention it when they come to the shelter and fill out an application.
About the Baltimore Humane Society
The Baltimore Humane Society, founded in 1927 by Mrs. Elsie Seeger Barton, is an independent, non-profit, no-kill animal shelter, which offers low-cost veterinary care to the public, and a pet cemetery with grief support services. We receive no funding from the local or federal governments, or any national animal welfare organizations. The Baltimore Humane Society is a proud member of BAWA (Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance) along with the MD SPCA, BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter), and Baltimore City Animal Control. For more information about BHS, and how you can contribute, volunteer, adopt, or foster, please visit www.bmorehumane.org.
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