Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival continues its 20th season, launching its Douglas Campbell Studio Stage programming with the romantic drama All’s Well That Ends Well. It plays Tuesdays through Sundays in the intimate 240-seat Studio Stage tent in Vanier Park from June 25 through September 19, 2009. All’s Well That Ends Well is directed by Rachel Ditor who is making her Bard directorial debut. Othello and The Comedy of Errors continue at the same time in the Mainstage tent.
All’s Well That Ends Well follows the adventures of a rejected bride as she sets out to secure her husband’s love. When the King grants lowborn Helena her choice of husband, she chooses her secret love Bertram, son of her mistress the Countess. After the ceremony, the snobbish Bertram flees and sends Helena this challenge – get the ring off his finger and conceive a child by him and he will be her husband. Determination, ingenuity and a little sexual trickery are needed before “all ends well” for the jilted bride.