Royal Oak, Again, Brings Shakespeare To The Masses

ROYAL OAK (CBS Detroit) Sex, violence and intrigue: This time it's not in the form of a Hollywood blockbuster, it's happening in a leafy park in suburban Royal Oak.

The city's annual tradition is unfolding ... Shakespeare in the Park. Water Works Theater Company is performing two of Shakespeare's plays, "All's Well That Ends Well," and "As You Like It," at Star Jaycee Park on 13 mile Road.

Meredith Deighton plays the lead role of Helena in "All's Well That Ends Well."

Deighton says Shakespeare's themes of sex, violence, and intrigue are just as relevant as they were when the plays were written more than 400 years ago.

"Shakespeare wrote what his audience wanted, which was sex and violence and intrigue, and it's all in there and it's all still relevant, it's just, I think it's really important the way you present Shakespeare.

But isn't it inaccessible to today's audiences, which are more used to video games and rhyming couplets? Deighton doesn't think so.

"As an actor, if you know what you're talking about and you can really, really understand what you're saying, your audience can really get it," she said.

Shakespeare in Royal Oak runs through August ninth.

Buy tickets to the show HERE.