Clothes Oft Proclaim the Man

There is a wonder-filled show at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, coinciding with this year’s celebration of Shakespeare in  the Woods.  Curated by Richard Stevens, the exhibit displays costume reproductions in the styles of the times in which Shakespeare lived and worked.  A click on any image will fetch a larger image, easy return to page.

Above is a Spanish Renaissance gown for Tamora, Queen of the Goths, in Titus and Andronicus.  Created by Tammie Dupuis.  Heavy fabric in many layers to help keep the body warm in a cold climate.  Opulent and jewel encrusted to indicate the status of the wearer.  Oola was smitten by this one.

Below are two costumes, roughly the same period, Italian.  Warmer climate, looser drape and lighter fabrics to let air flow around the body.  Created by Margo Loes, the gown is for Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.

Two doublets for courtiers in Comedy of Errors and Love’s Labor Lost, and King Leone’s winter coat in A Winter’s Tale.

Succeeding generations have produced Shakespeare plays in the costumes of their day.  This costume is for a Stuart-era Orsinio in Twelfth Night, created by Carmen Beaudry.

 

Richard Stevens, gave a talk to visitors at the opening of this show.  Among the many cogent observations he made was this: that women could not perform  on stage in Shakespeare’s time so women’s parts were played by men.  And male actors would not stand for simpering women’s lines, so the Bard had to make strong women’s roles.

Here is a fanciful costume for Portia, the Merchant of Venice, who brilliantly makes the law work in her favor.  The fanciful costume is opulent and heavy with masterful detail.  (The costume’s creator is  not cited in the show.)

Of course there are magical characters in Shakespeare’s.  Richards is facing one of the Wierd Sisters above. Below is Prospero, from The Tempest, costume by Richard Stevens

Oola, as I said, had aspirations for being the Queen of the Goths, but that being unattainable, she was perfectly happy to play the Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, costume by Margo Loes. (Apologies, Margo)

Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is sponsoring outdoor performances of Much Ado About Nothing for the next 3 weekends. At the Opening Reception for this Exhibition of costumes we were treated to a couple of preview scenes.  Costumes are mid-20thCentury reinterpretations.

Producer: Jessica Elliott

Director: Anna Anderson

Friday, Saturday and Sunday of July 21 through August 6.  Pre-show at 6PM, Performance follows 6:30PM.  Bring ground blanket or low chairs for seating.  You will be entranced.

Cost: FREE, though donations will be appreciated.

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is located at:

1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd.​
Port Angeles, WA 98362
pafac@olypen.com
360-457-3532

The Gallery is open Thursday-Sunday 10AM-4PM.