May 24th, 2012 
Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and head to Austin’s picturesque Zilker Hillside Theatre for an evening of free, and incredibly entertaining theatre featuring the talented actors from Austin Shakespeare, Texas’ only professional classic theatre company. Their mission is to bring to the public performances that are “fresh, bold, imaginative, thought provoking, and eminently accessible,” all of which is exemplified by their current rendition of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night or What You Will” – a romantic comedy that the company re-imagined in Bollywood, which I had the privilege of enjoying last week.
Photo Credit: Austin Shakespeare
“Twelfth Night” is the story of Viola, a young girl disguised as the boy servant Cesario in the fantastic world of Illyria. Fuse this classic tale with the bold colors and catchy dance moves of Bollywood, and you’ve got yourself a hit. As spectators (both young and old) sprawled out across the soft, grassy hillside and the sun slowly slipped away, the stage was a radiant beam of light and sound that transported audience members across both historical and cultural lines.
If you love the idea of the outdoor theatre but a picnic platter isn’t your forte, fear not, because Aparna Nayani is serving up the classics from her Indian food cart at each performance. Dishes include: chicken tikka masala, paneer tikka masala, chicken biryani, vegetable biryani, chicken tikka wrap, paneer tikka wrap and mango lassi. Hungry yet?
Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night or What You Will” makes for the perfect relaxing escape, right in the heart of Austin. My suggestion: grab friends and family and enjoy a performance over a plate of chicken tikka masala for an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend.
WHEN: May 3 – 27 Thursday – Sunday evenings at 8 p.m.
WHERE:
Zilker Hillside Theatre
2301 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78746
Ph. 512-479-9491
TICKETS: FREE! For more information, visit Austin Shakespeare online or onFacebook.
