The Second Annual
Weekend With Wm.
(In Other Ways Styled The Stilchester and Framboise Festival)
Friends, Romans, Countrymen —
The play’s the thing! That, plus the fancy cheeses and pretentious after-dinner wines.
Liketh thou watching players under the stars? Evening picnics upon yon beautiful estate? Bloomington, Illinois?
If thou answer yesth, then come partake of the Second Annual Weekend With Wm. (as in William, as in Shakespeare.) As we did last year, a troupe of folk is heading to Bloomington for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Itís a fun group, great plays and a zany get-away overall.
This year, we’re going to go on August 2nd and 3rd, a Friday and Saturday. The plays are “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Merchant of Venice.”
Here’s the deal:
Friday, August 2nd.
Caravan leaves Glen Ellyn at 2 p.m-ish. It’s a two hour ride to Bloomington. We check into our hotel, then go to the Ewing Estate. Blankets get spread out, and out come the wine, cheeses, and picnic dinners. “R & J” at 8 p.m. under the stars. To the pubs afterward. (If you can’t be part of the caravan, we’ll meet you at the Estate.)
Saturday, August 3rd.
Work off last night with a hearty Central Illinois breakfast. Shop, golf, bike, or whatever in the afternoon. Meet for dinner. At 8, we go see the “Merchant” under the stars. Then anyone who wants to can head home, or you can stay over Saturday night.
The tickets are about $55 per person, depending on what block of seats I can get. That includes both plays. The hotel should be around $70 … again depending on availability. If you wish to partake, just let me know. Unfortunately, theyíre going really fast and I need to order soon. I’ll order the block of seats and get you the phone number of the hotel weíre staying at. We can settle accounts later — and, no, it wonít be a pound of flesh.
Questions? Drop me an e-mail or give me a call. My numbers are 630-942-1202 (home), and 630-690-7100 (office).
— John