God is the best stage manager

This summer’s weather has been a bit of a problem for the generally-outdoor St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival.  Due to an almost daily occurrence of rain of some kind (this is the wettest summer in 108 years, according to the locals), it feels like we have performed more often in the rain tent or in a church hall up the road than we have in the harbour amphitheatre.

We have yet, for certain, to get through an entire week of performances without being in the rain tent at least once.

Tonight was pretty special, though, for a few reasons.  People came out in great numbers to see As You Like It, and they were intent upon having a good time.  The performance went well (as they all should), but the weather threw in a couple of extra treats for the audience.  Partway through the first act, a developing storm slid narrowly past us to the west and began moving across the St. Lawrence River.  As Duke Senior traipsed on to the stage in his hippie guru outfit, signifying the move to the Forest of Arden, the sky behind the ampitheatre lit up with a huge rainbow.  Later, during the second act, the fully-formed storm that had barely missed us flashed and sparked silently behind the stage just as sparks began to really fly between Rosalind and Orlando on stage.

Being outdoors can work against us, but it can also work very much in our favour.  After so many rain tent performances, we’re due for a few breaks.  Perhaps tonight’s awesome light shows are a sign that we’ll get to perform most of the final two weeks in the amphitheatre… where we’re meant to be seen.

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