For the first time in 58 years there will be no free Shakespeare at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The show is going on, though: Richard II is airing this week on WNYC as a radio play with no live audience, no stage hands and no raccoons to upstage the actors—which, as stage manager Buzz Cohen says, has happened quite often over the years. Like during the 1991 production of Othello.
"End of the first scene, Iago—Christopher Walken—has his soliloquy," she said, "and a raccoon just walked right across, shared the stage with him." Or the time a raccoon walked over an actor who was prostrate during a battle scene "and spent the rest of the scene with raccoon footprints across his chest."
To hear the whole story, click 'listen.'
When the Delacorte Stage Manager calls “places,” our raccoon friends head to where they need to be for top of show. They definitely are a part of what makes Free Shakespeare in the Park a one of a kind experience that we will miss having this year.
— The Public Theater (@PublicTheaterNY) May 7, 2020
📽️: Rebecca Sherman pic.twitter.com/YYiFiBohAd