The Peculiar Hazards of Shakespeare in the Park

From the Associated Press:

Ohio Cops Embarrassed After Raiding Shakespearean Swordfight

Thursday, August 02, 2007

KETTERING, Ohio — Romeo slays Tybalt for killing his friend, Mercutio.

Ah, Shakespeare.

Police in this Dayton suburb responded to a report of a swordfight in a public park Tuesday night. They found actors rehearsing a scene from “Romeo and Juliet.”

“Nobody was hurt, except for us from laughing so hard once we figured out why the police, an ambulance and a fire truck pulled up with sirens flashing,” said Dawn Roth-Smith, co-directer of the outdoor production by Playhouse South that opens Saturday.

“Somebody driving by must have seen our rehearsal but missed the big green sign we have up for our play,” Roth-Smith said. “I apologized to the officer for bringing them out for no reason. He told me I should tell my actors they’re doing a great job.”

Beware reports of witches in the park when the same group rehearses “Macbeth” next summer.

Imagine what would have happened if they’d been rehearsing the red-hot-poker scene from Marlowe’s Edward the Second!

6 thoughts on “The Peculiar Hazards of Shakespeare in the Park”

  1. Oh, that’s funny! I doubt the police are called upon to break up many sword fights these days!

  2. Susan Higginbotham

    Thanks for stopping by, all! I remember a few years ago there was a performance of Romeo and Juliet in a public park near here. The park has a kid-sized train that goes around every twenty minutes or so. There’s nothing like hearing the balcony speech with a train going “toot, toot” at intervals in the background!

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