Much Ado About Nothing

And one for the Bard!

We were lucky enough to catch Montana Shakespeare in the Parks last night for Much Ado About Nothing. They set the play in the South, Gone with the Wind style. Oh my, I would have never been clever enough to dress Beatrice in Scarlet, but it is PERFECT! You can write me an ass--but I don't believe we have ever laughed so hard at a play, not in Ashland, not in San Francisco, not anywhere. The kids loved it. We parents loved it. Just spectacular!

Merchant of Venice August 23, 2011

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

We drove over to Libby, Montana to catch Montana Shakespeare in the Park's Merchant of Venice. We were prepared for a beautiful drive up Highway 2 and a wonderful play, but we didn't count on Yaak Falls.

It was spectacular; I can't imagine what it would be like in spring! The rocks are amazing, many some of the oldest rock our Earth has to offer! Searching on the internet I find it is Precambrian Mudstone, exposed during and Eastward shift of the Pacific Plate. I can't find my Montana Geology book so I have to go buy one before the curiosity kills me to find out exactly what is known for sure. Usually there are information signs explaining these things, but alas, there were only a map and a camping with bears for the novice (hint: don't sleep with your sausages!) But there are black and grizzly bears in the area. We weren't lucky enough to see any, but the falls were incredible!

We continued North from Yaak Falls and then took a forest service road that follows Quartz Creek over the mountain and  by Loon Lake. It was just gorgeous. 

Libby, Montana may be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Too bad about the asbestos, but really, it is a green valley on the Kootenai River, nestled at the feet of green, snow-topped mountains on all sides.  The play was fun and of course we enjoyed it like nobody's business, but for the day I think the mountains won our affection over this particular production of  Shakespeare. Really, it was stiff competition and the Bard was a close second.