Revel in the weather or escape into air conditioning
Ah, summer: It’s that lovely season when Pacific Northwesterners relish getting outside without getting chilly and damp — until the temperature gets just a degree too hot and back indoors they go. This week’s highlights offer both options.
Photo courtesy of Tumwater Parks & Recreation
Party with legends at Harlequin
Harlequin Productions’ “Million Dollar Quartet,” a Tony-nominated musical inspired by Johnny Cash (Nathan Roberts), Jerry Lee Lewis (Wyatt Brownell), Carl Perkins (Maverick McCarl) and Elvis Presley (Ben Bailey), has audiences — including Oly Arts editor Alec Clayton — abuzz. The 90-minute show is packed with more than 20 hits from the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, and Harlequin gets the music rolling 30 minutes before showtime with a performance by musical-theater veteran Bruce Haasl. Need more reasons to snap up tickets? The air-conditioned theater is a treat for those who don’t have AC at home, and the lobby bar is serving moon pies and special cocktails themed to the stars, including the Fat Elvis Shot, made of peanut-butter whiskey, banana liqueur and Irish cream and garnished with bacon. Remaining shows (https://harlequinproductions.org/show/million-dollar-quartet/) are at 7:30 p.m. July 2, 3, 9-11, 16-18 and 25 and 2 p.m. July 5, 12, 16, 19 and 26 at the State Theater, 202 4th Ave E, Olympia. Tickets are $39-$55; for 7:30 p.m. performances July 3, 9, 16 and 19, pay what you choose.
Shakespeare in the trees
Animal Fire Theatre’s free summer Shakespeare shows are a beloved tradition. Last summer’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the company’s best-attended ever, drawing 1,700 people to Lacey’s Wonderwood Park. This year, the company is producing the seriously silly “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” which concerns a group of foolish young men who vow to eschew the company of women and then promptly break that promise. The script is filled with wordplay, puns and linguistic gymnastics, which give the actors ample opportunities to approach the bard’s work with a light touch. “Obviously, we have a tremendous amount of respect for these plays and for Shakespeare,” said Scott Douglas, who runs the company with husband Brian Hatcher. “it’s what we do, but none of us really have much interest in performing in the classic Shakespeare-play style. It’s much more compelling and gripping and fun for the comedies to make it more contemporary — to loosen up as actors and try to be real.” Performances are at 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 26 in the park, 5304 32nd Ave. SE, Lacey. Bring a chair or blanket and insect repellant.
Semiquincentennial celebrations
Saturday is not just any July 4; it’s the Semiquincentennial — aka the Sestercentennial and the Quarter Millennium. In other words, the 250th birthday of the United States of America. (If you’re feeling as though there’s not much to celebrate this year, consider this: The country has had its ups and downs over the past two-and-a-half centuries, and we can hope for better days ahead. If you do feel up for celebrating, or if you just like to watch the pretty lights in the sky, check out the Lacey Fireworks Spectacular, held as always on July 3, or the Tumwater Fourth of July Celebration. Both events are free (though parking in Tumwater costs $10), and both feature live entertainment, activities for kids and food vendors as well as fireworks. The Lacey event (https://laceyparks.org/fireworks/) is from 4 to 11 p.m. at Rainier Vista Community Park, 5475 45th Ave. SE, Lacey. The Tumwater festival (https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation-department/events/tumwater-4th-of-july-celebration) happens from 6 to 11 p.m. at Tumwater Valley Golf Club, 4611 Tumwater Valley Drive SE, Tumwater. Tumwater also hosts an 11 a.m. parade from Capitol Boulevard to Israel Road SW.
Molly Gilmore loves fireworks, provided they are lit by professionals and she can watch them at a distance.
To keep track of what is happening in the arts in the South Puget Sound region, be sure to read Molly Gilmore’s weekly “Arts Aficionado” column in Oly Arts magazine. Subscribe to Oly Arts to receive an email when we publish new articles and columns.