Community Theater Tames ‘Shrew’ in the Park

Shakespeare may seem like a shrinking resource in Orange County, especially now that GroveShakespeare in Garden Grove has canceled its 1993 season. At the professional level, there’s Shakespeare Orange County in Orange, and the occasional South Coast Repertory production.

A couple of community theaters, however, have made Shakespeare an annual event. The Huntington Beach Playhouse and the South Orange County Community Theatre may each do only one production of the Bard a year, but at least it’s something.

The SOCCT’s “The Taming of the Shrew” opens tonight at Lantern Bay County Park in Dana Point. As with the Huntington Beach Playhouse, which recently closed its production of “The Comedy of Errors” at Huntington Central Park, the presentation is outdoors. It marks the fourth year SOCCT has offered Shakespeare.

B. J. Scott, the company’s executive producer, said SOCCT was “heartbroken” over GroveShakespeare’s problems but hopes “The Taming of the Shrew” can provide an alternative.

“We think this will satisfy people, but we want them to know that this isn’t a big money show,” she said. “We think Shakespeare is so important, theater at its finest that should be available. It’s not some esoteric genre floating out there; it’s timeless.” * The South Orange County Community Theatre’s “The Taming of the Shrew” opens tonight and continues Fridays through Sundays at 8 p.m. through Aug. 14 at Lantern Bay County Park (on Dana Point Harbor Drive next to the Dana Point Resort) in Dana Point. $10. (714) 489-8082.