Bard has a home but rent is due

I was delighted to read Philip Brandes’ glowing review of Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival’s “stylish” Victorian-era staging of “Richard III” (“ ‘Richard III’ in Victorian Garb,” July 7). Kingsmen Shakespeare can always be relied upon to bring classy and accessible Shakespeare to our community.

Brandes’ complaint about the “obviously scaled-down production values,” however, was not, I am sure, director Jeff Combs’ preference. It’s just a sorry fact that there’s no longer sufficient money available for theater arts. When Kingsmen opened its gates in 1997, its plays were offered to the public for free. As funding dried up, it was forced to charge admission, albeit small. Now it’s a season-to-season struggle just to keep the dream alive.

Similarly, the charming Ojai Shakespeare Festival, whose roots in the community date back more than 100 years, has been priced out of Libbey Bowl and has been staging its plays in other venues until it can claim a new home of its own. Costs for its current production were raised through donations and by conducting a community yard sale. Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney would have been proud. Shakespeare’s histories depict how the great wheels turn, and someday there may again be an administration in California that does not scorn the “elitist” values of those who truly care about Shakespeare’s timeless and timely works.

John Slade

Ojai

John Slade is the director of theater arts at the Ojai Performing Arts Theatre Academy.