Last Friday evening I grabbed a picnic blanket, some chocolate covered pretzels and a friend and headed to Des Moines’ Salisbury House for the organization’s annual Shakespeare on the Lawn event.

And it just so happened that this year’s selection was one of my Shakespeare favorites–”A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Performed by a spectacular cast from the Repertory Theater of Iowa, this whimsical show was perfectly set against the wooded backdrop of the Salisbury gardens. Not only was it delightfully easy to believe that Puck might leap from behind a tree at any given moment, but the warm summer air made you truly want to be transported to Athens.

Shakespeare on the Lawn may be over for the year, but I would highly recommend checking out RTI’s schedule for the rest of the season. You’ll probably find me at Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Ernest” later this year.

Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda Drive in Des Moines