See the Bard’s ‘Twelfth Night’ at Everett’s Wiggums Hollow Park

It’s Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” in the park — free — but wait, there’s more.

Door prizes, free snacks and stick-on mustaches so audience members can play along with the disguises in the play’s plot.

It’s the first time the Seattle Shakespeare Co.’s summer touring troupe, known as Wooden O Productions, has come to Everett.

“We try to be very conscious of the family environment,” said George Mount, Seattle Shakespeare’s artistic director. He promises the play will be lively and fun.

Saturday’s event at Wiggums Hollow Park is being hosted by Everett’s Delta Neighborhood Association.

Mount made two scouting trips to the park, including one in March to meet with Mary Fosse, co-chairwoman of the neighborhood association.

The park is surrounded by apartments and blocks of housing, “then there’s this nice big lovely park,” he said. “It has this nice, open, expansive feel.”

The association is working hard to bring in a variety of activities for all ages to the neighborhood, Fosse said. The Shakespeare play is one of them.

“There is fun, silly stuff,” Mount said. “We’ve had 5-, 6-, 7-year-olds cracking up in the front rows.

“You should feel your youngest kids are going to have a fine time. If they get a little bored, there is a play structure nearby at Wiggums Hollow.”

The play will be performed in a way that mirrors the way it was produced in the playwright’s time.

“When Shakespeare wrote this, all the roles were played by men,” Mount said. That meant young boys would play the women’s characters.

Men playing women’s roles at Wiggums Hollow won’t be wearing wigs, but will be wearing modern costuming skirts.

After a successful National Night Out last year, the neighborhood association decided this year to have theater in the park instead, Fosse said.

Fosse contacted the Seattle Shakespeare Co. When Mount took a look at the park, he said it would be a great place for a performance, she said.

Other activities planned at the event include a pre-play appearance by Everett Improv doing a “Silly Shakespeare” performance, and door prizes that include tickets to the Everett AquaSox, and a set of greeting cards with Shakespearean insults, designed by Everett artist Rosemary Jones.

“I’m crossing my fingers for a great Everett turnout,” neighborhood association member Pamela Hanes said.

Artist Jones said she’s seen Shakespeare productions in Seattle.

“It’s nice to see the growth of arts and culture happening in Everett,” she said.

Mount said he loves the enthusiasm shown by the community group to add touches like door prizes and stick-on mustaches.

“It really makes us feel that it really is what we want it to be — a gift for the neighborhood to come together and celebrate the beautiful space they have in as many versatile, fun, ways as possible.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com. If you go

The Delta Neighborhood Association presents Shakespeare in the Park. This free production of the play “Twelfth Night” is at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Wiggums Hollow Park, 2808 10th St., Everett. Find Delta Neighborhood Association on Facebook for more information.