Shakespeare in the cemetery

LYNN – You?ve heard of Shakespeare in the park? How about Shakespeare in the cemetery?Today and Sunday, just inside the main gate off Boston Street, Lynn?s Arts After Hours will present “Romeo and Juliet” at Pine Grove Cemetery. It?s the first of a three-weekend engagement.And if you go, don?t expect to take your lawn chair inside and sit yourself down in it, because you?ll be moving around – as does the play.The show, which is free to the public, is part of an effort by Arts After Hours, now in its fifth year, to showcase the value of Lynn?s open space, says artistic director Thomas Martin.?(Pine Grove) is truly a breathtaking space in Lynn,” Martin said. “In 2012 and 2013, we did ?12th Night? and ?Much Ado about Nothing? in Lynn Woods. Last year, it was ?Henry V? at High Rock Tower.”?Every year, we get comments from people who go, who say that they haven?t been to these locations since they were kids,” said Corey Jackson of Arts After Hours. “It?s really nice to see Lynn people connect, or in some cases reconnect, with these areas. We are trying to introduce people to the spectacular open spaces in Lynn.”The story of the Montagues and Capulets and the star-crossed romance of Romeo and Juliet will be shortened somewhat to accommodate the fact that the audience will be standing up and moving around.?We start on the road that leads to the (Rhoades) chapel,” Martin said, “and there?s also action in the garden. The last two-thirds of the play are centered around the chapel.”The chapel is central to both the play and reason it?s being staged in the cemetery.?Julia Green from the historical commission called Corey Jackson (Arts After Hours) about doing this year?s show in the cemetery, in part to bring attention to the fact that the chapel is unusable inside,” Martin said. “And that?s too bad, because it is a beautiful building.?We want to bring positive attention to the cemetery,” said Martin.The chapel also factors into the play. In the beginning, it serves as Friar Lawrence?s area, later, another side of it serves as the backdrop for Juliet?s bedroom.Director Chris Webb feels that the cemetery, with its natural features and sunken garden, is a good fit for the play.?I hope that in our telling of the play, we can all begin to take a step back and examine how we deal with the violence that surrounds and infects our daily lives,” said Webb.Martin said the show “is a nice experience for the audience. It is very cinematic and realistic. It?s a fully immersive experience for the audience, who get to experience it with the actors. It?s really neat”?It?s nice to have local theater in Lynn,” said Jackson, “and to see residents experience parts of Lynn they?ve never experienced before. And that includes the downtown area, bringing people to our fall and spring shows at the Black Box Theater.”This year?s summer Shakespeare production is sponsored by The Office of Community and Economic Development, Pine Grove Cemetery Commission, Lynn City Council, Lynn Cultural Council, Salem Five and Community Credit Union. Due to this sponsorship, Arts After Hours is able to offer free admission, Jackson says. However, it encourages the public to make donations to AAH.The play will be performed at 4 p.m. today, with two shows Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m. Also, it?ll run Saturday, Aug. 1 and 8 at 4 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 2 and 9 at 1 and 4 p.m.