Entertainment
Bard on Bower is Back! Summer Shakespeare Festival starts Thursday night at Bower Ponds
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From Prime Stock Theatre
Bard On Bower 2019
The 9th season of Red Deer’s own 3 week festival celebrating the works of William Shakespeare. Presented on the outdoor stage at beautiful Bower Ponds in Red Deer for a limited run July 25th – August 11th, 2019
Featuring MacBeth and The Tempest performed in repertory, and NEW THIS YEAR “Bard in a Box” touring pocket productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Comedy of Errors playing FREE in select parks in Red Deer and area.
Enjoy LIVE theatre on a warm summer’s evening against the romantic backdrop of beautiful Bower Ponds! Live music! Feature Days! Picnic Baskets! Performances suitable for all ages!
How much does it cost?
The shows on the main stage at Bower Ponds are proudly presented with NO ADMISSION charge, thanks to government support and sponsors. We do welcome cash donations at the mainstage shows, which go directly towards covering a small portion of the expenses not covered by our fundraising, and to the cast & crew who are SHAREHOLDERS in the festival. They do not get paid a fixed amount for working full time hours for weeks on end to provide this exciting cultural event for all central Albertans. For info on becoming a sponsor please click here.
Is it a rain or shine event?
Most of the stage is covered by a roof and we do provide some tents and several umbrellas to the audience. If the day is rainy leading up to the performance and we are convinced no one will want to come, we may cancel a performance. Rain has come upon us during performances and we have always finished the show (taking impromptu intermissions as needed). If severe weather closes the park system all shows are suspended until the park reopens. For notice on cancellations follow us on twitter and like us on facebook!
Are there washrooms and amenities?
Washrooms are located in the Bower Ponds Pavillion, where there is also a concession. These are closed by the time our performances end. Here’s a closer look at the site:
OUR PERFORMANCES
MACBETH
MacBeth – Director: Victoria Wells-Smith
“Screw your courage to the sticking place”
(Act I, scene vii)
A desperate warrior yearns to become king. His destiny foretold by witches, and encouraged by his aspiring wife, MacBeth exercises ruthless dominion over troubled Scotland, and pays the price for his ambitions.
“MacBeth shall sleep no more”
(Act II, scene ii)
THE TEMPEST
The TEMPST – Director: Ben Blyth (of The Malachites / Edmonton/ London)
“Oh, Brave new world, that has such people in’t”
(Act V, scene i)
Shipwrecked on the magical isle of Prospero, love-lorn Ferdinand and sheltered Miranda discover the wonder of love in a Brave new world. Retribution and forgiveness clash in the spirit world of Ariel and Caliban
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on!”
(Act IV, scene i)
BARD in a BOX! TOURING POCKET PRODUCTIONS OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and COMEDY OF ERRORS
The touring company – condensed (45 minute) retellings of the popular summer romps, set to tour the civic parks of Red Deer and the surrounding County. Cast size of 4-5.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (45 minute version) – Director Thomas Usher
Helena and Hermia and their suitors run away, and run afoul, in a mysterious woodland realm of the faery king and queen. Meanwhile, local would-be actors rehearse a bizarre play in a nearby glade with asinine results.
“Lord, what fools thee mortals be”
(Act III, scene ii)
TOGETHER WITH:
The COMEDY of ERRORS (45 minute version) – adapted by Glen Gaston, Director Ashley Mercia
“I am to the world like a drop of water, that in the ocean seeks another drop”
(Act I, scene ii)
Separated at birth, two sets of identical twins encounter each other’s servants and families by chance. Unaware of what ties them together, they now must untangle whatever kept them apart.
“One of these men is genius to the other”
(Act V, scene i)
NEW THIS YEAR – Tea-for-2 picnic from Cronquist House
The package includes a carafe of tea or coffee, sandwiches, squares all personally packed in a basket for a summer evening repast watching BARD on BOWER. Order through Prime Stock website.
Bower Ponds Outdoor Stage Schedule
Thursday July 25, 7pm MACBETH
Friday July 26, 7pm MACBETH
Saturday July 27, 7pm MACBETH
Sunday July 28 (New to Canada Day!), 1pm The Comedy Double Bill! COMEDY OF ERRORS & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, 7pm MACBETH
Tuesday July 30, 7pm THE TEMPEST
Wednesday July 31 (LGBTQ2S+ Night!), 7pm THE TEMPEST
Thursday August 1, 7pm MACBETH
Friday August 2, 7pm THE TEMPEST
Saturday August 3, 1pm THE TEMPEST, 7pm MACBETH
Sunday August 4, (Family Day!), 1pm The Comedy Double Bill! COMEDY OF ERRORS & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, 7pm THE TEMPEST
Tuesday August 6, 7pm The Comedy Double Bill! COMEDY OF ERRORS & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – with special guests the Edmonton Magpie Morris Dancers!
Wednesday August 7, 7pm MACBETH
Thursday August 8, THE TEMPEST
Friday August 9, 7pm THE TEMPEST
Saturday August 10, (Treaty 6 & 7 Day!), 1pm The Comedy Double Bill! COMEDY OF ERRORS & A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, 7pm MACBETH
Sunday August 11, 1pm THE TEMPEST
What should I bring with me?
Seating is on the sloped ground so you may want to bring a blanket or low festival chair to sit on. We have many tarps on hand that you can lay under your blanket (the geese will have left unwelcome presents for you on the grass). Picnics are welcome, and as it cools off you will find bug spray and an extra layer of clothing useful. A hat, sunscreen and rain-gear are always wise, and you may want cash if you choose to make a donation or take advantage of any refreshments available. We have a limited number of tents set up for public use, and many umbrellas.
Is the park accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?
The audience area is on a sloped grassy hill which might be a little awkward, but it is a barrier-free park. The ground is more flat at the back of the seating area just off of the walking path. Bulky items like strollers should be kept to the periphery of the seating area.
What if I have other questions?
When you are at the ponds please visit our donations tent at the back of the audience area if you have any questions at all, or if need to see someone with First Aid. In advance of a performance you can e-mail us at [email protected]
Arts
Trump’s Hollywood envoys take on Tinseltown’s liberal monopoly
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Quick Hit:
President Trump has appointed Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson as “special envoys” to Hollywood, aiming to restore a “Golden Age” and challenge the industry’s entrenched liberal bias. According to RealClearPolitics’ Ethan Watson, the move highlights the necessity of reclaiming cultural institutions from leftist control.
Key Details:
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Trump’s Truth Social post described the trio as his “eyes and ears” in Hollywood, advising on business and social policy.
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Hollywood’s leftist dominance, as seen in Disney’s political agenda and the cancellation of Gina Carano, has alienated conservatives.
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Watson argues that Trump understands “politics is downstream from culture” and that influencing Hollywood is vital to shaping American values.
Diving Deeper:
President Trump’s latest move to reshape Hollywood has the entertainment industry buzzing. By appointing Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson as his “special envoys” to Tinseltown, Trump is signaling that conservatives no longer need to cede cultural institutions to the left. As RealClearPolitics’ Ethan Watson writes, “Donald Trump understands something many right-wingers haven’t for a long time: It’s time to take back institutions.”
Trump, who has long criticized Hollywood’s liberal slant, sees the entertainment industry as a battleground for shaping public opinion. “Although studies have shown that many Americans, particularly younger people, are unaware of the biggest news story of the day, nearly all of them consume media produced by Hollywood,” Watson notes. This cultural dominance, Watson argues, has been exploited to push a left-wing agenda, alienating conservative voices.
The case of Gina Carano exemplifies Hollywood’s intolerance toward dissent, Watson writes. The former “Mandalorian” star was fired by Disney in 2021 after posting a historical comparison on social media. “In truth, her cancellation was most likely due to her mocking pronoun virtue signaling and COVID-19 precautions that were essentially an entrance fee into the upper echelons of Hollywood,” Watson states. The politicization of entertainment didn’t stop there—Disney executive Latoya Raveneau openly admitted to inserting a “not-at-all-secret gay agenda” into children’s programming.
Watson pushes back against the idea that conservatives should simply “build their own” Hollywood, arguing that the industry is too integral to American culture to be abandoned. “Casting it aside would be like trying to create an alternative to Mount Rushmore or baseball – it’s irreplaceable,” he writes. Trump’s decision to highlight conservative-friendly stars like Stallone, Voight, and Gibson sends a powerful message: conservatives in Hollywood no longer have to stay silent.
Trump’s envoys are a step toward restoring balance in an industry that has become a one-party echo chamber. “Hollywood, along with social media, has become the ‘town square,’ the medium by which Americans share ideas,” Watson explains. With leftist cancel culture stifling dissent, Trump’s initiative is not just about entertainment—it’s about ensuring freedom of expression in America’s most influential industry.
Business
Donald Trump appoints Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone as special ambassadors to Hollywood
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From LifeSiteNews
In a surprise post on Truth Social, Trump announced, ‘It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California.’
In an unexpected move, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected Mel Gibson, along with Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voight, to be “special ambassadors” to Hollywood in his next administration.
“It is my honor to announce Jon Voight, Mel Gibson, and Sylvester Stallone, to be Special Ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California,” Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday.
Elaborating on his decision, Trump continued:
They will serve as Special Envoys to me for the purpose of bringing Hollywood, which has lost much business over the last four years to Foreign Countries, BACK—BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!
These three very talented people will be my eyes and ears, and I will get done what they suggest. It will again be, like The United States of America itself, The Golden Age of Hollywood!
All three of the Hollywood stars are baptized Catholics and have, to varying degrees, professed and defended their beliefs both in God and in conservative principles more generally.
The appointments come just days after Gibson, who is well-known as an outspoken Catholic actor and director, appeared on the popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, making headlines for defending the resurrection of Christ, talking about the post-Vatican II crisis in the Catholic Church, and speaking candidly about the important role his faith has played in his life. Gibson’s house was also one of many to have burned down in the fires ravaging Los Angeles, describing it as a form of “purification.”
Similarly, Stallone, who talked about his return to Christianity in the early 2000s after drifting away in his younger years, was also in the news recently for saying for the first time publicly that he is the survivor of abortion.
As for Voight, he was raised Catholic and attended the Catholic University of America, and is well-known for holding conservative views and talking openly about his belief in God. He is also the father of famous actress Angelina Jolie.
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