Shakespeare in the Summer 'Hath All Too Short a Date'

When I was twelve, I saw the legendary Royal Shakespeare Company's touring production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I was already a Shakespeare fan after seeing Franco Zeffirelli's film version of "Romeo and Juliet," my favorite movie of all time. But this live production simultaneously blew my mind and expanded it, at the same time solidifying me as a lifelong Shakespeare fan.

Although it was over fifty years ago, I remember the production vividly. There were no props or scenery, and the play was performed in what's known as a "white box." However, that doesn't mean it wasn't colorful; the characters were dressed in bright reds, yellows and blues. Rather than having stuffy actors standing in one place and reciting stale-sounding soliloquies, this production was staged as if it was a circus with performers on stilts, trapeze bars and flying in from the rafters.

Hearing Shakespeare's dialogue spoken by beautiful actors in "Romeo and Juliet" helped me understand his words, but "A Midsummer Night's Dream" made Shakespeare accessible and fun. No one had ever produced a version as creative, innovative and unconventional as this one.

In college, I was cast in my one and only Shakespeare play, "Henry IV: Part I." I studied Theatre Arts at San Jose State University and was thrilled to play the bawdy Mistress Quickly, a tavern owner and one of the only three female roles.

Our production was presented in the school's student union amphitheater, in July, and my costume was multi-layered, but the excessive heat couldn't dampen my excitement. My college boyfriend and I began dating during that show, and we took the long gaps when not needed on stage to find quiet corners to be together. As drama students, there's nothing better than falling in love while performing Shakespeare. We spoke poetry on stage and lived it off.

These days, while I'm no longer an actor, I'm something even better — an enthusiastic audience member.

Whether reading one of Shakespeare's plays or sonnets, watching a recorded version, or seeing it live, there's never a bad time for the Bard. As I get older, I realize that not only is seeing "As You Like It," or "Hamlet," or any of Shakespeare's plays a pleasure, but there are also benefits to seeing live performances. And in the summertime, the opportunities to see Shakespeare seem to be everywhere.

Back in Shakespeare's day, his plays were generally presented during the daylight hours as there was limited scenery, lighting options and volunteer stagehands. Since many of the venues were outdoor theaters with minimal covered seating and an open-to-the-sky middle, summer was a good time to stage his plays — less of a chance of getting rained out.

In the 1950s, free productions of Shakespeare's work started in New York's Central Park and the idea of outdoor performances of Shakespeare spread across the country. There are summer Shakespeare companies everywhere, from Delaware to Utah in the United States, to Australia, Canada, and Europe.

Though Shakespeare may have a lofty reputation, his plays offer something for everyone: romance, action, physical comedy, drama, poetry, human emotion and valuable life lessons. Shakespeare's way with words is especially beneficial.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool found that Shakespeare's manipulation of language delights and stimulates our minds. One example of this is how Shakespeare uses nouns as verbs. Initially, our brain recognizes the word and what it means, but it's thrown by its usage. Shakespeare's wordplay becomes a puzzle for our brains to figure out. This type of mental stimulation helps maintain brain function and cognitive health as we age.

While reading Shakespeare or watching a film or TV version of one of his plays is enjoyable, you don't need to be a Theatre Arts major to know that live theater is good for our health.

As a professional homebody, I recognize the effort it can take to get out of the house. I often have many reasons to stay home: I have to put on pants, I don't want to miss something entertaining my cats might do, and it's comfortable and stress-free.

But when I do go out and do something other than my regular day-to-day, I never regret it.

Too often, older people feel isolated. Since theatre is a communal affair, it reminds us that we're not alone and a part of something bigger. We bond with the performers and the roles they play, which aids us in understanding humanity on a deeper level.

Live theater encourages conversations and allows us to see things from different perspectives. It's an effortless way for people to feel new emotions and unique situations while at the same time, reviving our personal memories.

When we laugh at Puck's antics in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" or Beatrice and Benedick's bickering in "Much Ado About Nothing," we relieve tension, which can boost our endorphins.

One of the wonderful things about Shakespeare's plays is that people are free to put their unique spin on them. A director may place the characters in a different locale or time in history, and this helps to keep things fresh. You can see the same play several times and never see it the same way twice. Theater is immediate and evolving; every audience member has a different experience upon every viewing.

If you're on a limited budget or watching your spending, Shakespeare can be a cheap and sometimes free way to enjoy some theater. If you're seeing a production in a park, you're often encouraged to bring snacks or a picnic — sometimes even your own seats.

At the end of September, my friend Lauren and I will drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Ashland, Oregon, for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. We're especially excited to see our high school friend, David Kelly (a company member for over 20 years), take on the role of Duncan in "Macbeth."

Although we're going at that time of the year when it's not summer or fall, and the show is in an indoor theatre, it will still give me the summer Shakespeare vibes I crave.

I've never seen a live rendition of "Macbeth." I plan to read it beforehand and rely on my gift of understanding Shakespeare's words — the same one I've had my entire life. It will be a chance to bond with Lauren, catch up with David, and reap all the benefits of seeing Shakespeare performed in real-time.