Labour’s of Love’s

English: Title page of the first quarto of Love’s Labours Lost (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Love’s Labour’s Lost opened at the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory Friday night at the Great Hall Theatre at St. Mary’s Outreach Center on 3900 Roland Ave. The company moves to their outdoor space at the Meadow at Evergreen Museum and Library at 4545 N. Charles Street (between Loyola and Notre Dame) this weekend and runs thus August 5th.

The small company did a great job with this wordy show. The pacing was crisp, the comedy was spot on and the acting was tight. LLL is essentially a Shakespearian sit-com/rom-com and all the lovers on stage were delightfully witty. But this production really shines when the comedic characters strut onto the boards.  Chris Ryder’s Costard, Brian Hanson’s Boyet, Jess Behar’s Sir Nathaniel, Kerry Brady’s Holofernes, Kathryn Zoerb’s Moth and especially Ann Turiano’s Don Armado steal the show. The intimacy of the Factory and the way in which they involved the audience makes the comedy all the more engaging.

Contemporary songs add to the fun. The cast and director had a Q&A with audience members after the show to discuss how they brought the Bard’s play to life.

The cast, having partially changed out of their costumes sit at the edge of the stage for a Q&A.

The theatre at St. Mary’s Outreach Center has a thrust stage complete with balcony. The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory actors perform with out mics and with the audience lights up.

Later this season the group will present the Taming of the Shrew . For info or tickets call or email the Factory at info@theshakespearefactory.com or call 410-596-5036.