Mt. Greylock thespians ready "Love's Labour's Lost," for Friday and Saturday shows

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Mount Greylock Regional High School is presenting "Love's Labour's Lost," one of William Shakespeare's comedies this Friday and Saturday night's at 7 p.m. at the school here. Tickets at the door are $5 for students and seniors and $8 for adults.

The play, directed by Shakespeare & Company's Jonathan Croy and Conor Moroney, is a delightfully clever romp through a land of masquerade balls and mistaken identities, unrequited love and double entendres. It is a celebration of not only the crazy ways people act when falling in and out of love and lust, but also an exploration of the sacrifices people will make for love.

Set in fairytale-like eighteenth century France, the play tells the story of the King of Navarre and three of his lords, self-important men who decide to spend three years eating six meals a week, sleeping three hours a night, and forgoing women, all in order to devote themselves to study. Of course, a princess and her three ladies arrive, and soon the men fall in love.

The story weaves its way through both delight and tragedy, each moment tumbling after the next in a flawless sequence. "Love's Labour's Lost" is one of 10 plays being created by local high schools in conjunction with Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, as a part of the Fall Festival of Shakespeare.

In its 22nd year, the festival sends professionals from Shakespeare and Company to work with high-school students in acting, set design, costuming, lighting, and general training.

"It's not like any other theater program because you get to work with professional actors and directors, and you do really good plays," said junior Hannah Paul, who plays Rosaline, one of the ladies. "This year's cast works really well together; everyone in Shakespeare loves to do it, so it gives the play a really good energy."

For more information contact ffsgreylock@shakespeare.org .

SOURCE: Shakespeare & Co., via MGRHS parents