The Bard returns to Point Pleasant Park with a pair of productions

A summer tradition is returning to Point Pleasant Park.

After the past two years were either sidelined or restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shakespeare by the Sea is thrilled to kick start its 2022 season on July 15 — albeit with a slight alteration.

“We are just kind of stretching our wings after such a weird and tumultuous couple years and just kind of reassessing what we can handle as a company,” says Jesse MacLean, managing artistic director about Shakespeare by the Sea’s two upcoming productions. “After 28 years of producing and running after the next show, the pause has really been beneficial for us.”

Normally running three shows per season, MacLean says Shakespeare by the Sea will concentrate on staging a pair of productions this year ­— including William Shakespeare’s renowned masterpiece, Hamlet, and an original family-friendly musical called Cinderelly!

“It’s something that’s been evolving for a long time, and every seven or eight years, we go, I think it’s time for Cinderelly to ride again!” says MacLean of the company’s take on the classic fairy tale — a production the group first staged in 2004.

“I’m really feeling great about this particular edition of the show because I think the music is really incredible, the artists that we have this season are all powerhouse singers (and) the whole cast kind of joins in with the band at times.”

Directed by MacLean himself, Cinderelly! The Musical spins the Cinderella tale and drops the princess protagonist into the fictional old west setting of Rattlesnake Gulch.

With music and lyrics by Amos Crawley, Johnny Eaton and the cast, the wacky adaptation of Cinderella aims to elicit plenty of laughs during its July 15 to September 4 run with a “countrified” score and what MacLean describes as a “Looney Tunes” setting. 

“Think of your Yosemite Sams and your Wile E. Coyotes and the two-dimensional cactus,” adds MacLean. “That’s kind of the world that we are living in.”

Beginning August 5, the Prince of Denmark will take his rightful place at the Cambridge Battery in Point Pleasant Park to seek revenge on the royal family for the death of his father in Shakespeare’s iconic play, Hamlet.

“The works speaks for itself (and) the story has universal appeal,” says MacLean about the decision to launch what is considered by many to be the Bard’s greatest work. However, with the play also being Shakespeare’s longest (at around 30,000 words), MacLean notes they have adapted a tighter version for modern audiences.

“We try to keep our Shakespeares around an hour and a half,” notes MacLean, who has been involved with Shakespeare by the Sea since 2003. “What you do is get kind of snappy, to-the-point versions of Shakespeare and I think it’s really captivating to the audience — the plays, when they are cut like that, they really truck along, there is no time to sit there and be bored.”

In addition to Cinderelly! and Hamlet, Shakespeare by the Sea will be sharing its stage this summer with the local improvisation troupe Hello City, which performs shows Monday nights from July 18 to August 29.

MacLean is anticipating a welcome Shakespearean return to Point Pleasant Park and encourages people to plan their visit as soon as possible.

Although Shakespeare by the Sea’s mission is to keep live theatre accessible to everyone, the organization does suggest a $20 donation per person. For those who prefer reserved seating, “sweet seats” are available for a $30 fixed-rate donation in advance.

“If that isn’t an option for folks, we are and will always maintain an aspect of our company that is by donation, so you can still come and put whatever you can afford into the bucket,” says MacLean. “For us, it’s about trying to be as financially accessible and available so as many people as possible can see and experience live theatre.”

For more information on Shakespeare by the Sea, visit the website.