Arts Alliance of Stratford Presents: Wild Thyme

The story of the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre was brought back to life, and took center stage on June 20th at Harbourview Place in Stratford. Through the lens of playwright Gina Russell Tracy, for just one night and with a sold out show, four actors took to the stage for a reading of Wild Thyme, and took us on a journey from the past, into the future, and left us asking, what next?

The play opens with the voice of Milford resident, and assistant director of the show, T.J. Chila, who guides us through scenes with a boldness that intrigues, and instantly becomes an integral part of the play for the 2-hour performance.

She takes us on the journey of two spirits and two mortals, leading us through some of Shakespeare’s most notable works, like Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. There was tragedy (which is on brand for Mr. William Shakespeare), and so brilliantly portrayed with tears and all by actress Marca Leigh, a local resident. Her immortal counterpart in the play, Mark Gilchrist, provides a more subdued demeanor, often reflecting on the past, the fragility of life, and with an unexpected humor to boot.

There were plenty of one liners and heavy hitters, giving the audience time to pause and consider their words: “Dreams are the children of idle brains” and “Delusion is a lengthy process.” Stratford Arts Alliance member Jack Levine, a playwright himself, said of the play: “Great actors who bring to life what Shakespeare is all about.”

The symbolism of it, the longing to be loved, as Juliet did, carries the play into the future, where mortals, played by Matt Stevens and Tyler Bunch, with a Back-to-the-Future feel, are morphed into the theatre. The actors, with booming voices and quick wit, take us through their exploration of the theatre, finding old stage props covered in cobwebs, getting lost in the dark and causing a fire when a lit candle is tipped over. They are running from the burning building when the play ends. 

We spoke with Gina Russell Tracy about what she wanted the audience to take away from the play, and she said,

“The messages are clear…bravery, compassion, respect for humanity and survival are at stake. We, as successful playwrights, sometimes find ourselves writing something that has power, illuminates truths, and we reach into the world of metaphysics and tap into our place in the universe. Our challenges, like the four characters, must struggle with survival and purpose. The play illustrates our interdependence.” 

For many of us in the audience, we knew the answer to the question posed early on in the play – what next? We knew that on the grounds, just off of Elm Street and behind the White House, there is barren land, where the American Shakespeare Theatre used to be. 

Today, the space is left in limbo. 

As we sat, not far from where the theatre once stood, we looked out at the Housatonic River that runs down to that very site. The possibilities of what the space could become gave me hope, just as the last scene of Wild Thyme brought the play to a close. 

In its over thirty years, the theatre welcomed actors, from Katherine Hepburn to James Earl Jones, and put on countless plays that drew both tourists and theatergoers, translating into over millions having the opportunity to experience the American Shakespeare Theatre of Stratford. What do theatre-goers even want to experience? Matt Stevens reflected on why he chose to join this particular cast, and said, “It was an honor to say the words of Gina and Shakespeare. And, I got to work with a great bunch of actors.” Yes, when we go to a theatre performance, we want to see great actors, who seamlessly sink into their roles, and the actors in Wild Thyme did just that.

Wild Thyme reminds us that there is a history worth remembering, and a future yet unknown right here in town. In an interview published this past May, the CT Post spoke with Mayor Hoydick. When asked about what should happen to the vacant White House property, she said: “It is a beautiful structure, and it’s part of Stratford history. We asked what we could do with the John Benjamin House [aka the White House] that would provide a place for the arts, because we don’t have an arts center like other municipalities do.”

If you’ve not had time to journey over to the big White House, and duck behind the massive trees, to see the space, add that to your list of things to accomplish this year. 

The space is expansive, and if you sit quietly, you can almost feel how sacred a space it is. 

Wild Thyme was sponsored by the Arts Alliance of Stratford and proceeds from the play benefit their new initiative, Rising Artists Alliance, which provides emerging artists, 18-25 year olds, with funding for their projects and events.