July 19, 2001
On the sea of dreams
A different kind of touring company docks in Toledo this weekend
By Christine Brucker
Entertainment Editor
TOLEDO-- If all the world's a stage and the men and women merely players, the newest stage in Toledo is a whole different world.
Docked behind the Owens-Illinois building is a tall-ship which double as a stage. This weekend, the crew of the Amara Zee will stage "1592: The Dogs of Shakespeare."
The Amara Zee, which means heart of the sea goddess, is a fully equipped ship modeled after a Thames River Sailing Barge. The ship is 90 feet in length, has a 23 ft. beam and a shallow draft of 4 ft. It is equipped with six cabins, captain's quarters, a full galley, salon, bathing facilities and water reclamation system. Above deck, the ship features self-lowering masts and a ferris wheel.
Not a ferris wheel like at the county fair, but a fixed wheel designed for climbing as part of the production.
The ship is manned by a crew of 18 to 23 actors.
Yes, actors or theater technicians.
"We are all artists or actors first," said Dustin Parks, publicist and actor in the troupe.
Parks, a native of Texas, had a lot to learn when he joined the troupe, based in St. Petersburg, Fla.
"I'm from West Texas, " he said. "I didn't even know what a tall-ship was."
He learned about the program while surfing on the internet.
"I had originally applied for the publicist job," he said. "I didn't even know there were any parts still available. I sent in my resume with some of the projects I'd done. I talked to Paul, and he said there was still a part available. I flew in to Tampa for an audition and to take a look at the ship."
As of March, he was the company publicist and "Captain Too" of the Regarders.
Parks studied theater at Angelo State University in Texas. The small school and even smaller program, 60 students in all, enabled him to learn all aspects of the craft. Skills that have come in handy on this rather unusual voyage.
"We learned it all," he said. "We learned lights, sound, set construction and stage management."
But he did not learn anything about sailing. That came after the roles were cast. Parks said the first time he tried to steer the ship, he ended up doing donuts in port.
The company features a mix of performers with diverse backgrounds and differing nationalities. There are cast members from Ireland, England, Germany, and across the U.S. and Canada. All of these strangers now have to live in a confined space for six months.
"You become each other's best friends and worst enemies," Parks said. "It really depends on the group of people you have. This a a really great group."
Their talent comes through at performances. Wednesday afternoon, the company was engaged in rehearsals. Passersby would stop to take in parts of the show.
"This is not a kids' show," said Parks. "People bring their kids, but a lot of the material goes over their heads. There is a lot of satire and political humor."
There is also a lot of bawdy comedy. The play is an adaptation of the novel "Shakespeare's Dog" by Leon Rooke. The play was written by Jeff Pitcher and Paul Kirby, director and founder of the company.
The play surrounds the killing of one of the queen's swans by a dog, Shakespeare's dog to be exact. The regarders are ordered to put all the dogs to death. Meanwhile, Shakespeare must make the decision to stay in Stratford Upon Avon, or follow his dream and travel to London.
The play follows the same style of theater that was prevalent in Shakespeare's time.
"We have aerialists, some mask work, satire, and a lot of physical comedy," Parks explained.
There are references throughout the performance to Shakespeare's works. many of them will be easily recognizable. Others are more obscure.
"The main objective of a Caravan show is to have a reaction," he said. "If people see the show and are still talking about it an hour and a half later, it was a good show. Whether they liked it or not."
The Caravan and The Caravan Stage Barge projects were created by Paul Kirby and Adriana Kelder. It began in 1970 as a traditional caravan troupe. the group would travel from town to town in horse-drawn wagons to entertain young and old with a puppet show. It grew to a 25-person company of actors, musicians and artisans living in six wagons drawn by teams of Clydesdales.
In 1993, the Amara Zee was commissioned. The ship cost $2 million to build and was the result of in-kind donations from companies and craftsmen.
Parks is enthusiastic about the experience.
"It is very hard, but it is a great adventure," he said. "It's like you get to live in a dream for six or eight months. I will go back home with all these stories and no one is going to believe me."
What? Where? When?
"1592; The Dogs of Shakespeare," will be staged by the crew of the Caravan Stage Barge at 9 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and at 10 p.m. Friday behind the Owens-Illinois Building on the Toledo Riverfront. Tickets are $10 ADV/$12.50 DOS for adults and $5 ADV/$7.20 DOS for children 12 and under. Deck tours will take place from noon to 4p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $2ADV/$3 DOS. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling (419) 247-1234 or purchased the day of the performance from ticket vendors along the site.