Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s ‘Into The Breeches’ brings history to life

On the surface, “Into The Breeches” is a comedy but in the hands of Ohio Shakespeare Festival it is much more than that. It is a time capsule of what it was like living in “the home front” where no none was positive that a total victory could be had against a seemingly unstoppable enemy. Along the way the play covers the subjects of gender profiling, racial prejudice and gay bias that was wrongfully prevalent during those times.

It is 1942 and America is deep into World War. II All able body men have been training for the past two years and are now fighting to the death in Europe and the Far East against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy and Japan.

Maggie (Sarah Pine) has been the light hidden under a basket for years at the Oberon Play House as the Assistant Director under her husband Andrew (who is off fighting the war along with all the other men in the Boston area). Maggie has decided that the home front needs more than munitions factories, bomber plants, victory gardens and rationing. It needs theater to remind everyone left behind exactly what they are fighting for. Thus the idea of an all female Shakespeare production is born.

Her first job is to recruit the theater’s long time diva, Celeste Fielding (Holly Humes). While not quite “over the hill”, Celeste is inching along to the crest. Her roles of Juliet and Cinderella are quickly fading into the past. Females playing male roles (the complete opposite of what occurred at the Globe Theatre in the 16^th century) appeals to Fielding and thus she signs on to play the prince.

Maggie next meets with Ellsworth Snow (Terry Burgler), the theater board’s president and owner of various local war industries. In a brilliant move, she meets with Snow and his wife, Winifred (Dede Klein), whom Elsworth is completely devoted to. Her plan to produce an all female version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and V is snubbed. In fact, Snow is completely against the plan. That is until Maggie offers a role to the misses. On that alone, the theater lights shine once more.

With Winfred Snow added to the cast along with Celeste things are going swimmingly. That is up until the auditions when a scant two inexperienced actors show up to vie for the over thirty parts. The two “volunteers” in the form of Grace (Hillary Wheelock) and June (Maria Guardino Schreiner) wonder in and are cast on the spot.

As desperation becomes the mother of invention the theater’s Black seamstress, Ida (Debbie Tinsley) volunteers to take a man’s part. The theater’s gay stage manager, Stuart (Alex Funk) ends up casting himself in a female part. Both actions are considered taboo in that unenlightened time. When questioned why HE is not overseas fighting, Stuart states that he tried to enlist but was turned down repeatedly because he was “too thin”. Fact of the matter is that in 1941 “homosexual proclivities” were a disqualifying condition for the military draft.

Soon, table readings are begun and Maggie is hopeful that their show will meet with success. Celeste once more throws throws a hand grenade into the soup pot demanding to be paid as a male actor (in the past females were never paid at the Oberon). The rest of the cast agrees. Celeste leaves in a huff and all seems doomed.

Casting for this production demands total attention to detail. Not only must the actors have comic chops there are some very telling dramatic sequences as well as flawless performances of Shakespeare required. Sarah Pine as Maggie is well suited as the forever put upon director in charge of herding cats. Her dealings with Ellsworth and Celeste is priceless.

Holly Humes as Celeste is masterful as the aged ingenue bringing a sarcastic crispness to the role. Terry Burgler as Ellsworth is superb as the male naysayer flat out against change and progress. Alex Funk as Stuart plays the part lightly with superb nuance. Debbie Tinsley as Ida recreates the roll of a scarcely noticed Black woman in a sea of white. Her portrayal of courage and dignity excel. Hillary Wheelock as Grace and Maria Guardino Schreiner as June are fantastic as the two “left behind” wives emphasizes the pain and sorrow that waiting brings. As the play progresses, they grow into their roles. “Rounding out the cast” is Dede Klein as the delightful Winifred Snow. Her performance brought the many laughs from the audience.

The show is spritely directed by Nancy Cates. Nancy Humes handles the costume design ranging from war time casual to Shakespearean appropriate garb to World War II inspired uniforms. Josey Jones does a superb job with the lighting design as does Tess Burgler with the sound design. The well appointed set of back stage at the Oberon Theatre is the genius of Dale E. Seeds.

1942 was an extremely charged time in our history. Young families were torn apart with no assurance that the men would return in one piece. No modern theater work comes close to recreating that time of doubt. Many older audience members will recall what their parents went through. Ohio Shakespeare Festival manages to recreate the vibe that was that faraway time. Get there early to enjoy the music from that era.

The Ohio Shakespeare Festival production of “Into the Breeches” will be on stage in Greystone Hall at 33 S. High Street, Akron, Ohio, 6^th floor through May 17, 2026. For information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.ohioshakespearefestival.com/ or call (330) 374-7574.