BOUNTIFUL—Kick off the summer with some Shakespeare in the park as the Rocky Mountain Shakespeare Company presents “The Merry Wives of Windsor” at the North Canyon Park amphitheater in Bountiful, May 31 and June 1. The comedy by William Shakespeare was first published in 1602 and centers around some wives who expose a trickster by playing some tricks of their own. 

The Rocky Mountain Shakespeare Company started in 2020 and is made up of actors from 6 years old to 46 years old. 

“We’re a very age friendly company,” said Director Amanda Brown. “We include everyone. We competed at the Shakespearean Festival and took third in ensemble and third in sweepstakes.”

Brown said they try to do Shakespeare properly. “We use period costumes and try to use the text as a foundation. We don’t have a ton of set pieces because I think that can detract from the language. We try to make language the star.”

Brown has a master’s from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and a joint degree from King's College in London. “I try to build the actors’ confidence that maybe they didn’t have before and bring it up so that we can put on really great pieces of art. I love seeing people speak the words.”

The company also holds summer scene workshops, said Brown. “Go to our website rockyshakes.org to get details on auditions, shows and workshops. You can also subscribe to our emails.”

“Merry Wives of Windsor” is free and open to all ages, she said. “The show is a testament to marriage and speaking out against lies.”

Brown said the company has a lot of young male actors who participate in their shows. “I want boys to know that I honor their masculinity and girls their femininity. I don’t want boys to feel they have to be soft in any way. I really do love that.” 

Shakespeare is often thought of as highbrow entertainment, she said. “He actually treats the human condition. We see ourselves in all of his characters. The more we read and perform it the better we will be. If you read Macbeth it makes you never want to make a mistake again.”

“Merry Wives of Windsor” will play at 6 p.m. May 31 and June 1. North Canyon Park is located at 3900 Bountiful Blvd.