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Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: rjerred@haltonscarch.com A R T SfflE RBC Festival of Classics begins eighth season By Craig MacBride O A K V IL L E B E A V E R S T A F F The large, white tents are up, the bleachers are assembled, the scaffolding rises above with the lighting system on top. and the stage, surrounding the huge tree that is the centrepiece, has been built. The RBC Festival of Classics is ready to begin its eighth season, and now the members of the audience need to take their seats and the actors the stage, and then William Shakespeare's The Tempest can be brought to life. The long warm nights of rehearsal that lead actor David Ferry claims left the actors asking `we're getting paid for this?' have come to an end. The play, directed by Miles Potter, who has directed outdoor Shakespeare before at Vancouver's Bard on the Beach, is ready for the masses. Actor David Ferry feels that the masses will love it too. despite the aver sion by some to Shakespeare's lan guage. "Young people w ill enjoy it, old peo ple will enjoy it," Ferry said. "There's something in it for everyone." Often thought of by scholars as one of Shakespeare's most ambitious plays, the numerous facets o f the production with action, fantasy and romance, played out by spirits, monsters, maidens and noblemen - make it a very full play, yet. remarkably, one of the Bard's short est plays. Also Shakespeare's last full play, says Ferry, who plays Prospero. "I have a theory he knew he was dying when he wrote this. It's so melancholy, a man coming to terms with his life. It's a play about forgiveness and seeking forgive ness. a desire for revenge and a need to be human and forgive." Ferry's character, as well as having many conflicting emotions, has many lines in the play, more than usual for a Shakespearean lead, which Ferry, though a long-time stage professional, admitted is a challenge. That the play is staged outside adds to the challenge. Not being able to fill the space as an actor could in a theatre, not to mention being dwarfed by the enormous tree the stage is built around, each actor needs to find ways to increase his or her presence. "It presents technical challenges," Ferry said. "You have to try to come close to the size of the tree, the energy of it." There are positive points for the tree Photos by Nir Bareket · Special to the Beaver Revealing the very heart of hum an darkness, Shakespeare's The Tempest, will he perform ed in a theatrical setting underneath the sta rs beginning tonight until Aug. 9. M iranda, played by Tova Sm ith, helps the play's main c h arac ter Prospero, played by David Ferry, put on his cloak. O liver Dennis tackles the role of C alaban, below left. as well, though. It acts as a back wall, and it's shape, draped over the stage and over part of the audience, makes the otherw ise flat and unremarkable park more inti mate. The beauty and individu ality of the site is one of the reasons Ferry decided to do the play. After being invited by Potter, whom Ferry had worked with before, it was the great reputation of the Festival of Classics' previous productions that hooked him. Having worked in out door productions six times before, for productions as large as Romeo and Juliet in High Park in Toronto. Ferry said of Coronation Park. "It's the best park environment for theatre." The Tempest will run from tonight (W ednesday) to August 9, Monday to Saturday at 8 p.m. General admission tickets cost $20 and can be pur chased at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. 130 Navy St, or by phone at 9058 15-2021. Bookers Book store. 172 Lakeshore Rd. E. also has tickets on sale. Sunday, Ju ly 20th 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Parking Lot C Live specimens of native and non-native species. Guest speakers, pond study hike, activities and more about reptiles, mammals and rodents. 1:00 p.m. Pond Study · 8:30 p.m. Creepy Critters Hike O N T A R IO Camp activities at museum offers children first-hand look at history Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate is excited to offer Hands on History Summer Day Camp for chil dren aged seven years and up starting this week until Aug. I. Oakville Museum encour ages parents to register the kids as soon as possible. Children will enjoy four weeks of fun and intellectual ly stimulating educational experiences that touch on local and international histo ry and heritage. This year the development of the Hands on History Program has evolved from a one-day booking to a oneweek booking. Education Interpretation Officer Susan Crane has built a top-notch day camp series filled with exciting activities with a twist of history. All educators and instructors tire dedicated and well trained in the delivery of exciting fun-filled days. Each Summer Day Camp Week focuses on child development, group leadership, team building, arts and historical pro gramming The Hands on History Summer Day Camp is divided into several sections: Our Town A Community until July 11 explores Oakville how to get to know the history of the community w ith visits to local sites of historical importance. Visit a First Nations historic site in Oakville, a pioneer farmhouse and cook over an open hearth. Medieval Times July 14 -18 is a week of fun from the time of damsels knights and castles. Children will enjoy a mem orable trip to the Medieval Times at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Ancient Days July 2 1-25 has activi ties from the days of Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt. Participate in Ancient Olympic Games. Children will also enjoy an art session, where they will be creating their very own "mini mosaic." A special part of the Ancient Days pro gram will be a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, for an ancient exploration. Six Continents in Five Days on July 28 - Aug. I will have the kids "pack ing." This week-long activity will take the kids on a journey through the history of six continents in five days. Kids will even get a chance to put their chef hat on at Paradiso Restaurant for a Southern European Cooking day. Crafts, games and many international celebrations make this week most memorable. Cost for Hands on History Day Camp is $ 156 per week, per child and pre-registration is required. Contact the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate at 905-338-4400. PARKS H B ro n te C re e k o r w w w . o n t a r io p a r k s . c o m F o r m o r e in fo r m a tio n c a ll 9 0 5 - 8 2 7 - 6 9 1 1 · 2 park e n tra n c e s · 2 s e p a ra te activity are a s · Day-use: Burloak Drive Exit 109 · C am ping: B ronte R oad Exit 11 B o u n ty E n te r p r is e s P r e s e n t s W ith STAYIN' ALIVE THE BEE GEES and SOLITARY MAN/ NEIL DIAMOND SHOW with members o f the Kitchener Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Transit Horn Section CAST OF MAMMA MIA "Closest th ing to A b b a ' GLOBE & MAIL 'F an tastic" TORONTO SUN "Vocally s u p e rb ' WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 'B e s t Abba P ro d u ctio n in The W o rld ' W E D N E S D A Y . A U G U S T 13 -- 8 p m 130 Navy stre e t. Oakville. B o x o f f i c e 9 0 5 -8 1 5 -2 0 2 1 T IC K E T S $ 3 5 .0 0 A V A IL A B L E A T T H E O A K V IL L E C E N T R E F O R P E R F O R M IN G A R T S T H EO A K V IL L EM il N orth .Americas m o st /'w a rd e d N ew spaper