Walking into Bob and Lesley Currier’s home in Marin is both an overwhelming and comforting experience all at the same time. It’s quite like walking into the Forest Meadow’s Amphitheatre in San Rafael, CA, where Bob and Lesley have served as the Artistic and Managing Directors for the past twenty years. Their home is really one big set design, with Lesley’s amazing mosaics built into the floors, the walls and fireplace, and even into one spectacular shower. Props design stage left and right; a drum set seated center stage waits for its fame in Marin Shakespeare’s upcoming psychedelic 60’s adaptation of Twelfth Night, Or All You Need is Love. There’s so much more in the costume room or backstage where the trampoline plays—through every exit and entrance. Snapshots of the many acts and scenes signify the eventful history of this family and their love of Shakespeare, theatre, and each other.
Marin Shakespeare Company celebrates its 20th season this year under the direction of Bob and Lesley Currier. I had the opportunity to sit down with Lesley and reminisce about her past twenty years with Marin Shakespeare, the twists and turns along the way, and their current 2009 season, which includes Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a festive adaptation of Twelfth Night, and finally Julius Caesar, starring Shakespeare veteran Barry Kraft in the title role, and Hollywood actor Jay Karnes in the role of Brutus.
I also learned in my conversation with Lesley that while it’s wonderful and important to have a dream, it’s even more wonderful to live your dream. It seems as though Bob and Lesley live their dreams with every season, every play, everyday. Their fifteen minutes of fame has stretched out to twenty years and counting. Bob and Lesley invite you to Forest Meadows Amphitheatre to sit back with them and enjoy the show.
For more information on the Marin Shakespeare Company and their 2009 season, visit http://www.marinshakespeare.org.
Click here to listen to our latest Shakespeare Talks podcast with Lesley Currier (Subscribe in iTunes).
