This is the 10th summer since "Shakespeare in Love." For fans of that film, what better 
way to launch the Bard-takes-Long-Island season than with "Romeo and Juliet" 
chased by "Twelfth Night"?


          In the 1998 Oscar winner, Will, on the advice of Queen Liz, 
pens the words for his next play - a comedy - following the ardently tragic "R&J," after
 he's lost his love, Viola, to an arranged marriage that whisks her across the ocean.
 "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" 

          This weekend, you can catch both the tragedy and
 the comedy of Shakespeare alfresco, beginning tonight with the Long Island 
Shakespeare Festival's "Twelfth Night."

          "Romeo and Juliet" gets the authentic 
"wherefore-art-thou?" treatment as Arena Players returns Sunday to the 
Vanderbilt mansion's cobblestone courtyard, and Romeo gets a workout
 on the stairs to the clock-tower balcony where Juliet is ensconced.

          Frederic De Feis, in his 58th year 
with the company he founded, has directed more than a few "Romeo and Juliets." 
And it's his second time directing the winsome stage couple, Evan Donnellan, 23,
of Massapequa, and Maryellen Molfetta, 30, of Smithtown, who studied 
theater at London's Royal Academy. "It makes it so much more realistic," Molfetta 
says, "with Romeo climbing toward me on the balcony."

          We talked to De Feis about summertime Shakespeare.
What is it about Shakespeare under the stars? Even the Globe was open-air.
The ambience fits the poetry. You just sit back and take it all in. 
Why so much tragedy this summer? Comedies usually rule, but after this comes
 "Hamlet," which is playing Central Park, too. There's lots of humor . 
Bawdy humor. And with the sword fights, it's like an action film.
Is there a Shakespeare you always wanted to do, but haven't?
"King Lear." Very heavy slogging. But maybe one day.
And one you'll probably never do?
"Titus Andronicus." Too much blood. "Shakespeare Abridged" says
more in 30 seconds than we could in two hours. 
Forsooth.

          WHAT Arena Players' Shakespeare at the Vanderbilt
WHEN|WHERE "Romeo and Juliet," 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 7 p.m. Sundays, 
starting Sunday and running through July 27. "Hamlet," Aug. 1-29, both at 
Vanderbilt Museum courtyard, 180 Little Neck Rd., Centerport; 631-854-5550, 516-293-0674 
INFO $15, chairs provided, but bring a seat cushion. Before the show, 
picnic on grounds overlooking Northport Harbor.