Theatre troupe launches Bard in the Vineyard in the Okanagan
Imbibing is not essential, of course, for the enjoyment of one of William Shakespeare's works. A Vancouver, B.C., theater, Bard on the Beach, has been mixing wine-tippling with summer runs of Shakespeare quite successfully in recent years.
Now, though, this professional troupe has branched out to inaugurate Bard in the Vineyard, a new venture which offers open-air performances of the classics at a picturesque winery in Canada's Okanagan, a prime grape-growing region.
This year, at its scenic original site in several white circus tents clustered on Vancouver's Vanier Park, Bard on the Beach presents Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice," "Pericles" and "The Comedy of Errors," through Sept. 21. Though the acting can be variable in quality, the shows I've seen (including "Merchant" and "Comedy") tend to be beautifully designed, vivaciously performed and crisply spoken. And the setting, above English Bay and below Grouse Mountain, is in itself intoxicating.
On Sunday, there will be a special wine-and-cheese-tasting event between performances. And Bard on the Beach also has fattened its appeal with other ancillary programs, including a mid-performance salmon feast with post-show fireworks over English Bay, a series of free Shakespeare play readings served with tea and scones, and musical evenings.
Meanwhile, the Mission Hill Family Estates Winery in Westbank, B.C., hosts the company's first show to hit the Okanagan area: a colorful and sprightly edition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which runs through Aug. 31. Westbank is 4½ hours east of Vancouver and about 5½ hours from Seattle (up Highway 5 but bypassing Vancouver by heading northeast from Mount Vernon, and east from Merritt, B.C.)
Both venues are worth a visit if you enjoy Shakespeare, and plan a British Columbia jaunt.
A trip to Mission Hill, however, also gives you an opportunity to explore a lakeside vacation region that's long been popular with Canadian tourists, but isn't well known to most American travelers.
My recent drive to Mission Hill was most enjoyable — despite the frequent radio bulletins about major forest fires raging as close as 35 miles to the north, between Vernon, B.C., on up to Kamloops, B.C.
The only visible sign of the fires in the Westbank area was some sporadic haze on the horizon.
But lucky for me and my companion, when we arrived at Mission Hill's newly expanded and renovated complex the air was clear and the views spectacular. And the temperatures were in the mid-80s, which is moderate for the area.
We found the impressively reconfigured Mission Hill winery on a tall hill overlooking a broad stretch of Lake Okanagan.
A fragrant rose garden in full bloom greeted us on the paved path to the winery's arched entryway. We then strolled into a spacious, open piazza, bordered by a vineyard terrace and loggia where one can wander, sip wine and gaze at the lake, the bucolic valley and the surrounding pine-covered hills.
Designed by Mission Hill proprietor Anthony von Mandl and Seattle architect Tom Kundig, the winery buildings are painted in soothing shades of mustard-gold and terra cotta. Other attractive design features include a 12-story bell tower equipped with four working bronze bells, and a display of valuable artworks that includes a Marc Chagall tapestry and antique wine vessels from the Bronze Age.
For its first year as a Shakespeare presenter, Mission Hill is trying out a dinner-theater package. And it's already such a success it's sold out through August.
If you want to eat here, fear not. Gourmet picnic items, boxed dinners and wine by the glass are still for sale in the wine shop. But lucky for us, we were able to sample the full, three-course dinner, served in a charming loggia overlooking the lake. It was a satisfying repast for a mid-summer's eve, with melt-in-your-mouth crab ravioli as a starter, a creative risotto with sweet-and-sour cherries for my entree (lamb and salmon were also available) and an artful sampling of local cheeses and dried fruits for dessert.
Two glasses of wine came with the meal which, packaged with the show, was a good deal at $79 (Canadian) per person. Just remember to book far in advance for next year.
After dinner, we strolled around the grounds before settling into our seats in the small amphitheater carved into a hillside off the main courtyard. The slope is rather steep, and the chairs are actually dug into the ground.
But the back rows afford easily accessible seating for disabled patrons. The staging area is cool, out of the sun's range at showtime. And the decent sightlines were coupled with surprisingly good acoustics.
Sitting near the back, we heard everything the actors said on the intimate tiered and pillared stage. And it was a treat seeing the dexterous fairies of "Midsummer Night's Dream" cavorting in their bright plumage and fluttering garb against the backdrop of a pink-streaked sunset.
Bard in the Vineyard and Bard on the Beach artistic director Christopher Gaze also made frequent use of the grassy aisles in this staging, having the comic characters in the play whiz up and down those slopes with uncanny speed and admirable lung control.
When dusk turned to darkness, the stage lights blazed on. But the starry sky and looming shadows were also great advantages, especially to a romantic comedy that ends at night with a riotous skit and a trio of happy newlyweds embracing.
In addition to Shakespeare, this part of the Okanagan area has many other tourist attractions — and many other vineyards one can visit.
The largest town in the area is Kelowna. A booming burg with about 150,000 residents, it has a busy lakefront area with boating and swimming facilities. There's also good hiking in nearby Mara Canyon, a slew of restaurants, and accommodations that range from fancy resorts to modest B&Bs. (We stayed at Aaron's Pool and Spa B&B, a homey establishment in a residential neighborhood. It has a good-sized swimming pool and welcoming hosts.)
The city also has its own company dedicated to the Bard of Avon: Shakespeare Kelowna, which performs short summer runs. If Kelowna is too bustling for you, consider staying in smaller Westbank or in quiet, compact Peachland to the south.
The latter hamlet is spread along the lakeside, with miles of inviting beaches and public parks. Most of the nearby lodgings are in B&Bs and vacation rentals. And Shakespeare — as well as wine — are close at hand.
Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com.
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