“Shakespeare in the Park”

The Public Theater's free “Shakespeare in the Park” epitomizes summer in New York City. On a starlit night, nothing can be more idyllic. Audience goers queue up hours before ticket distribution hoping to get seats and a lucky few get tickets via the online lottery.

Over the last few years, artistic director Oskar Eustis has paired two shows together with a theme. The theme this year, appropriately enough, is “Shakespeare in Bed.” Done in reparatory, both shows feature sexual intrigue and machinations, including a “bed trick” in which one woman is substituted for another.

In “All’s Well that Ends Well,” Helena, played by Annie Parisse, cures the dying king–played by 80-year-old actor John Cullum who never messes up a word–and marries young Count Bertram, played by Andre Holland. However, rather than go through with the marriage, Bertram runs off to war. He sends her a letter saying that she will never be his wife until she wears his ring and is pregnant with his child. Since this is a comedy, Helena tricks him and becomes his wife, rather than finding a man who is worthy of her. Broader humor comes from Bertam’s follower, Parolles, (Reg Rogers) a garrulous, loudmouthed coward who is tricked into showing his true colors. All ends well when the couple is reunited and Bertram realizes that he loves Helena.