Come not between the dragon and his wrath

But do come to the Stratford Library when the Hudson Shakespeare Company Performs “King Lear”

STRATFORD - The popular Hudson Shakespeare Company of New Jersey will return to Stratford for its sixth annual season with a program of three productions performed outside in the library’s scenic amphitheatre, organizers said.

The presentations are free and open to the public.

The series begins with Shakespeare’s great tragedy, “King Lear” at 2 p.m. June 19, organizers said.

Shakespeare’s "dark journey is about a powerful man at the end of his life who has ruled and ruled absolutely for a very long time. King Lear has taught his three daughters Goneril, Regan and Cordelia that the world is a dangerous place and power and status must always be maintained. This single-mindedness dominates the family as Lear reluctantly gives up his power and divides his kingdom among his three daughters," organizers said in a statement. "The daughters, having their own issues with their father and each other, soon begin to exercise their own agendas."

Other plays in the Shakespeare series this summer will be “Much Ado About Nothing” July 10 and “The Tempest” August 14.

Patrons should bring a lawn chair or blanket to spread in the amphitheatre prior to the 2 p.m. show times.

In the event of rain, performances will take place in the library’s air-conditioned Lovell Room. For more information, call the Stratford Library Public Relations and Programming Office at 203-385-4162 or visit: http://www.stratfordlibrary.org/.

In the photo: The powerful King Lear (Thomas Cox) with his daughters Cordelia (Emily Best, left), Goneril (Brenda Scott, center) and Regan (Noelle Fair).

Editor's note: The information in this post was provided by the Stratford Library.