Theatre: Love's Labours Lost at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (July 2016)

“Extreme Shakespeare.” This production will be rehearsed the way Shakespeare’s company would have rehearsed it: actors arrive with their lines learned, rehearse on their own, wear what they can find, and open in a matter of days. No director, no designers. Just great actors, a great play, pure adrenaline, spontaneity, creativity and fun.

Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance at the Inns of Court before Queen Elizabeth I. It follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to forswear the company of women for three years of study and fasting, and their subsequent infatuation with the Princess of France and her ladies. In an untraditional ending for a comedy, the play closes with the death of the Princess's father, and all weddings are delayed for a year. The play draws on themes of masculine love and desire, reckoning and rationalization, and reality versus fantasy.

Though first published in quarto in 1598, the play's title page suggests a revision of an earlier version of the play. While there are no obvious sources for the play's plot, the four main characters are loosely based on historical figures. The use of apostrophes in the play's title varies in early editions, though it is most commonly given as Love's Labour's Lost.
The historical personages portrayed and the political situation in Europe relating to the setting and action of the play were familiar to Shakespeare's audiences. Scholars suggest that the play lost popularity as these historical and political portrayals of Navarre's court became dated and less accessible to theatergoers of later generations. The play's sophisticated wordplay, pedantic humour and dated literary allusions may also be reasons for its relative obscurity, as compared with Shakespeare's more popular works. Love's Labour's Lost was staged rarely in the 19th century, but it has been seen more often in the 20th and 21st centuries, with productions by both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, among others. It has also been adapted as a musical, an opera, for radio and television and as a musical film.

Love's Labour's Lost features the longest scene (5.2), the longest single word 'honorificabilitudinitatibus' (5.1.39–40), and (depending on editorial choices) the longest speech (4.3.284–361) in all of Shakespeare's plays.

Synopsis:

Ferdinand, King of Navarre, and his three noble companions, the Lords Berowne, Dumaine, and Longaville, take an oath not to give in to the company of women. They devote themselves to three years of study and fasting; Berowne agrees somewhat more hesitantly than the others. The King declares that no woman should come within a mile of the court. Don Adriano de Armado, a Spaniard visiting the court, comes to tell the King of a tryst between Costard and Jaquenetta. After the King sentences Costard, Don Armado confesses his own love for Jaquenetta to his page, Moth. Don Armado writes Jaquenetta a letter and asks Costard to deliver it.
 
The Princess of France and her ladies arrive, wishing to speak to the King regarding the cession of Aquitaine, but must ultimately make their camp outside the court due to the decree. In visiting the Princess and her ladies at their camp, the King falls in love with the Princess, as do the lords with the ladies. Berowne gives Costard a letter to deliver to the lady Rosaline, which Costard switches with Don Armado's letter that was meant for Jaquenetta. Jaquenetta consults two scholars, Holofernes and Sir Nathaniel, who conclude that the letter is written by Berowne and instruct her to tell the King.
The King and his lords lie in hiding and watch one another as each subsequently reveals their feelings of love. The King ultimately chastises the lords for breaking the oath, but Berowne reveals that the King is likewise in love with the Princess. Jaquenetta and Costard enter with Berowne's letter and accuse him of treason. Berowne confesses to breaking the oath, explaining that the only study worthy of mankind is that of love, and he and the other men collectively decide to relinquish the vow. Arranging for Holofernes to entertain the ladies later, the men then dress as Muscovites and court the ladies in disguise. Boyet, having overheard their planning, helps the ladies trick the men by disguising themselves as each other. When the lords return as themselves, the ladies taunt them and expose their ruse.

Impressed by the ladies' wit, the men apologize, and when all identities are righted, they watch Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, Costard, Moth, and Don Armado present the Nine Worthies. The four lords – as well as the ladies' courtier Boyet – heckle the play, and Don Armado and Costard almost come to blows when Costard reveals mid-pageant that Don Armado has got Jaquenetta pregnant. Their spat is interrupted by news that the Princess's father has died. The Princess makes plans to leave at once, and she and her ladies, readying for mourning, declare that the men must wait a year and a day to prove their loves lasting. Don Armado announces he will swear a similar oath to Jaquenetta and then presents the nobles with a song.

Link to the review by The Morning Call here

Bethlehem: The People's Kitchen (June 2016)

I dined at The People’s Kitchen with two family members for breakfast on a Sunday morning in mid-June 2016. The People’s Kitchen is open for breakfast and lunch daily. (The restaurant closes at 3:00 pm.) The People’s Kitchen does not accept reservations, so you may have to wait for a table on a busy day (the restaurant has placed a park bench outside where a few people can wait). The good news is that this is a casual breakfast and lunch joint, and your delay should not be longer than 30 to 45 minutes. If you are a smaller party (of one or two patrons), you can be seated faster, because there are many places that will accommodate you. However, if you are a larger party of three or more people, there are only two or so places where the staff can configure larger tables. Two-hour complimentary street parking is available.

The People’s Kitchen, which opened in the fall of 2014, is located at the corner of North Street and Linden Street in Bethlehem, somewhat near the Downtown/Historic area. The restaurant occupies the spot that once held Theo’s Gyros, which is in a row-home in a somewhat residential area. The front of the restaurant contains the grill/open kitchen, followed by a lunch counter that seats about eight patrons. Three or four tiny tables for two are positioned against the wall and windows across from the counter, with another four tables in the rear, some of which can be pushed together to make larger configurations. (The maximum capacity of the restaurant is about 25 people at a time.) The staff performs all work in front of the diners (for example, cooking, food prep, dishwashing); there is no kitchen hidden in the back room. Space is at a premium; to reach the basement storage area, staff must open a floor panel behind the counter and descend right from the dining room/kitchen. The overall feel is a trendier version of a neighborhood luncheonette/diner. The walls are off-white, and feature framed black-and-white artwork and silhouettes with a bicycle theme; one wall also contains silhouettes of the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces and a bicycle jump that highlight the flat-screen TV. It is easy to appreciate the decorative pressed-tin ceiling because of the many windows that allow light to reflect off the wood floors and wood counter top. Light jazz music provides a nice buzz. Bill Gruenewald owns the People’s Kitchen; he is a graduate of Liberty High School and Penn State, with a degree in hospitality management. Gruenewald also operates The Bolt & Key Café on the campus of Lehigh University, and he has been integral in opening the new Tavern at the Sun Inn.

The People’s Kitchen serves American cuisine. Our group of three shared three entrees: the breakfast macaroni and cheese (which is served in a small cast-iron skillet, with pasta, cheese, bacon, and potatoes; add an egg on top for an extra dollar), the shrimp and grits crepes (an abundance of large shrimp drizzled with barbecue sauce set atop crepes filled with grits), and one daily special, the chicken and waffles (shredded chicken in a cream gravy spread atop a thin sweet potato waffle). Everything was tasty and creative; however, although all entrees were priced the same, the portion size and heartiness varied greatly. The chicken and waffle was the least substantial, and the mac and cheese skillet was the most filling. More standard breakfast options like eggs, omelets, pancakes, and French toast are also offered on the smallish menu that arrives attached to a small clipboard. The lunch menu includes burgers, salads, and sandwiches, as well as some interesting-sounding specialties (such as crab bread, chicken tempura, hummus, and flatbread). Most of the entrée items on both the breakfast and lunch menus are priced in the $8 to $9 range. The People’s Kitchen does not serve alcoholic beverages. Service was extremely pleasant.

We enjoyed the unique breakfast dishes at the quaint hipster hangout, The People’s Kitchen.

Wyomissing: PJ Whelihans (June 2016)

I ate dinner at P.J. Whelihan’s (along with seven college friends as a sort of mini reunion) on a Tuesday evening in mid-June 2016. P.J. Whelihan’s Pub is open daily for lunch and dinner. The restaurant does NOT accept reservations, even for larger parties. The good news is that the restaurant space is enormous, so you can probably find seating regardless. P.J. Whelihan’s offers complimentary off-street parking in a dedicated lot.

This location of P.J. Whelihan’s Pub is located in the Reading/Wyomissing area in the space previously occupied by Toscani (next to the Giant grocery store and near Austin’s restaurant). Note that the actual street address of the restaurant, Rocky Road, did not appear on my GPS; instead, I used Van Reed Road. The PJW Restaurant Group owns approximately 15 locations of P.J. Whelihans. PJW also owns three locations of the Pour House: North Wales (Montgomeryville, previously Romano’s Macaroni Grill), Exton (previously Cheeseburger in Paradise), and Westmont NJ; a steakhouse called the Chop House (Gibbsboro NJ); and Treno Pizza Bar (Westmont NJ). The Reading/Wyomissing restaurant space is completely open and cavernous with high ceilings and a good number of windows. The restaurant offers seating at high-top tables, low-top (regular) tables, and booths. A large bar features prominently, and many TVs are positioned throughout the space, so you can always keep up with the latest sporting event. Al fresco dining is also available on a covered patio, with a second bar serving outdoor customers. Unfortunately, the music volume was terribly loud on the night that we visited; our group requested to move to the outdoor patio for some relief, but part of it was closed for their monthly fun run. Instead, the hostess said that she would request to have the music turned down, but that never happened, so we had to shout to hear each other.

P.J. Whelihan’s offers American cuisine. I ordered the fish tacos (as did several others in our group), and they were very tasty; however, they did not look particularly enticing. Also, the menu listed “taco” singular, but they came three to an order arranged in one of those metal slotted holders. The soft flour tortillas were just a tad too large for their contents (generally when I order fish tacos, restaurants use smaller diameter tortillas), which included red cabbage topped by grilled and slightly crispy (but not breaded) white fish, which was then topped with a dab of salsa (I think that it was the salsa that made the tacos look unappealing). Others in our group ordered salads, a Reuben sandwich, a burrito bowl, and crab cake sandwich, and the salmon, all which looked appealing. A special seasonal food menu is also available. P.J. Whelihan’s is well-known for making great chicken wings, as well as cheesesteaks (both beef and chicken), although no one in our group ordered them. The restaurant offers $5 drinks at Happy Hour; I ordered a drink special called the “Butterscotch Sundae”, which was delicious (although it seemed like it contained no Butterscotch schnapps whatsoever), topped with whipped cream and garnished with a thin Oreo cookie. Whelihan’s also offers an extensive list of beers on draft, which are detailed on a paper handout so that you can read more about them (including the alcohol content); however, the type was nearly too small, especially for aging eyes without reading glasses! Two special events were occurring on the night that we dined: a second-Tuesday-of-the-month fun run, and a spirits tasting. Our server was attentive and understanding, especially when we sent her away repeatedly without ordering because we were busy chatting and catching up with old friends. Intelligently, the restaurant did not add an automatic 18% gratuity to our tab because we were a large party, which benefitted our server because we tipped much more than that. Prices are reasonable: drinks and casual entrees for our group of eight barely cost $150 before gratuity.

P.J. Whelihan’s is a good choice for pub food and sports-watching in the Reading area!

Quakertown: McCoole's at the Historic Red Lion Inn (June 2016)

McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn – Comfortable, Casual Dining

My spouse and I visited McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn for an early dinner on a Sunday evening in early June 2016. We have dined at McCoole’s two times previously, but this review describes only our latest experience. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays (closed on Mondays). Reservations are accepted via telephone or by using their online system. Parking is available in one of several lots surrounding the property; one parking lot is immediately adjacent to the restaurant, one is next to their event center, and the last lot is located down the street at the Quakertown Chamber of Commerce (use the “Mane” Street Shuttle bus if it is operating). Two area business also allow restaurant customers to park in their lots after normal business hours. Because of the restaurant’s position at the intersection of Main Street and Broad Street, on a corner that has a traffic light, it can be a bit tricky to enter and exit the two parking lots closest to the restaurant if there is traffic on the streets.

McCoole’s is located in the historic Red Lion Inn in Quakertown, which opened in 1750. The Inn was used as a meeting place following the American Revolution during the presidency of John Quincy Adams. It was the site of the organization of the John Fries Rebellion, which was an armed tax revolt by Pennsylvania Dutch farmers in 1800. The space functioned as an inn with lodging for stagecoach and train passengers before it became a restaurant. (It was called Abel Robert’s Tavern in historic times.) The inn’s old livery stable (which is now called the “Arts & Entertainment Place” and previously hosted the Main Street Theatre) is available to rent for private parties.

The main dining space of McCoole’s has a quaint, rustic feel, with lots of oak details. One room holds a bar, as well as several high-top tables. The main dining area is divided into two sections, the larger of which holds the majority of tables in all sizes and configurations. Pressed tin ceilings, wood and/or tile floors, stone walls, and fireplaces decorate the rooms. Outdoor seasonal dining is available on the front porch and patio.

The extensive menu, which arrives clad in a home-made wooden cover, offers American cuisine. The restaurant’s goal is to offer a fine dining experience on a casual dining budget. We shared the cheesy, creamy crab dip to start, which arrived accompanied by toasted/seasoned baguette slices. The dip arrived a little less hot than we would have liked, and it was covered with a layer of melted cheese; in addition, we would have preferred that the bread be unseasoned so that we could taste the flavor of the crab. For our main dishes, we ordered two casual options: fish and chips (one large piece of deep-fried fish, accompanied by well-cooked French fries, a bit of coleslaw, and a Creole sauce in lieu of tartar sauce), and the El Paso mac and cheese (corkscrew pasta with cheese, bacon, and sliced fresh jalapeno peppers). The fish and chips were fine, but the amount of jalapenos in the pasta was truly overwhelming; when we piled them on the accompanying plate, the mound looked as if it would fill more than half of the oval ceramic dish in which the dish was served, leaving little room for the actual macaroni noodles. For dessert, we shared the mixed berry mascarpone cake; while tasty, the portion size was small, and the dish did not seem house-made. The restaurant also offers entrée choices like steaks and seafood if you are looking for a more elaborate meal.

If you are in the Quakertown area (where the restaurant choices are limited), consider dining at McCoole’s at the Historic Red Lion Inn.

 

North Wales: The Pour House (June 2016)

The Pour House: - Interesting Bar Food Menu, Large Restaurant Space

My spouse and I stopped at The Pour House (also known as P.J.’s Pour House) for a drink on a Sunday afternoon in early June 2016. The Pour House is open for lunch, dinner, and drinks daily. Reservations are not accepted. There are three Pour House locations: North Wales (Montgomeryville), Exton (previously Cheeseburger in Paradise), and Westmont NJ. In addition to the three Pour Houses, the PJW Restaurant Group owns a total of 14+ locations of P.J. Whelihan’s; a steakhouse called the Chop House (Gibbsboro NJ), and Treno Pizza Bar (Westmont NJ). Parking for the Pour House is available in a dedicated parking lot.

The North Wales location of The Pour House, which opened in the fall of 2015, transformed the space previously occupied by Romano’s Macaroni Grill from an Italian restaurant into a sports bar/music-themed restaurant. The restaurant is located in a stand-alone building in the Airport Square strip mall shopping center, directly across Route 309 from the Montgomeryville Mall. High ceilings add to the spacious feel of the restaurant, which features open concept seating with booths, high-top tables, and regular low-top tables arranged on two levels (one level is just a step up from the other level). In addition, 20+ flat screen TVs (one of which lists the beers on tap, including their alcohol/ABV content), record album/LP covers on the ceiling over the U-shaped bar, framed photographs of musicians on walls, and other music posters above the raised section of the dining room decorate the space. The property is expansive, seating over 200 people at a time. Live entertainment is available on certain nights of the week. The bar offers over 100 kinds of bottled beers and 40 drafts (all craft beer).

The menu sounds interesting, offering better-than-average pub/bar food; some of the items that we plan to try are the deviled eggs, pigs in a blanket, arugula flatbread, pierogis with caramelized Guinness onions, goat cheese fritters, fish tacos, adult grilled cheese, and fried s’mores dessert.

We wish that we had been able to dine at the Pour House to accurately review it, but we saw enough to know that we will return the next time that we are in the area (or more likely, at their Exton location).