Merry Wives at Shakespeare in the Park

Some people think of Shakespeare as stuffy, old-fashioned, and difficult to understand. That’s because many people have only experienced Shakespeare’s plays in a classroom, reading cramped text out of a dusty book. The Public Theater aims to change that perception – they stage fun, modern productions of Shakespeare’s plays every summer, and then give out tickets for free. Though the theater remained dark last year, this year Free Shakespeare in the Park returned with a production of “Merry Wives,” a fresh take on “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Writer Jocelyn Bioh moved the setting to South Harlem, in a community of West African immigrants. The cast, which is made up of exclusively Black actors, recites Shakespeare’s words in a variety of accents. Rather than the clipped British tones that you frequently hear from those reading Shakespeare, the characters in “Merry Wives” speak in the cadences of Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, and New York City. Major scenes in the show take place in a Senegalese hair braiding salon, a laundromat, and a city park, rather than in a manor house and its grounds, making the show feel firmly rooted in present-day Harlem. The show is riotously funny, beautifully staged, and superbly acted, and is a fantastic example of Shakespeare for a modern audience.

Re:Growth at Riverside Park

Riverside Park stretches along the western edge of Manhattan from 59th Street to 158th Street, a span of about four miles. It is an open secret that Riverside is the best park in the borough for running, biking, and relaxing by the water. This makes it the perfect location for a new public art exhibition, Re:Growth, A Celebration of Art, Riverside Park, and the New York Spirit. There are works of art scattered around the park, so as you explore Manhattan’s northwestern shoreline, you’re bound to come across work from at least one of the more than 20 artists represented in the event. I took a walk in the park and stumbled upon “Summer Vibe” by Sui Park, “Invasives” by Jean Shin, and “Happiness Is…” by Blanka Amezkua. Re:Growth feels like visiting a gallery, but it’s outside in the warm summer air, with the smell of saltwater all around you. It represents a safe way to experience art as we work through the uncertainties of the pandemic.

The Confusing Path to Legal Immigration

The US immigration system is famously complex, obscured by red tape, long waits, and multiple fees. Just how hard is it to immigrate legally to the US? Take a look at this flowchart by Mike Flynn, Shikha Dalmia, and Terry Colon to get an idea of the effort and time involved in getting a green card or becoming a citizen. This chart is actually almost 13 years old, originally published in the October 2008 edition of Reason Magazine. There have been very few changes to immigration laws in the US since this chart was published, but many immigration advocates hope that won’t be the case for long. In recent weeks, there has been a renewed push for congress to create paths to citizenship for DACA recipients, TPS recipients, farmworkers, and essential workers. Maybe soon this flowchart will have a few new branches.

Reclining Liberty by Zaq Landsberg

Tucked against a stand of trees at the top of a hill in Morningside Park is an unusual sight: the Statue of Liberty taking a rest. Artist Zaq Landsberg’s “Reclining Liberty” is a massive musing on the state of American ideals. The Statue of Liberty is a classic New York symbol, standing proudly in New York Bay to welcome visitors and immigrants to the United States. But in Landsberg’s version, she seems tired, taking a pose inspired by the Reclining Buddha, meant to depict the Buddha in his last moments of life. The pose has a hopeful connotation, however, as it can be understood to represent the last step on a path towards enlightenment. With this work, Landsberg is questioning whether Lady Liberty, or indeed if the US is “an entity forever upright and tall, is it an eventual decline and fall, or is there another stage for the country that will transcend this symbol altogether?" The sculpture manages to be humorous and charming, while provoking serious contemplation about American ideals.