tuzi

Maybe it's true that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Butfree Shakespeare? Absolutely. And this year, there's more of it.

Flock Theatre has decided to offer its Shakespeare in the Arboretumperformances free of charge. Flock hopes to draw folks who wallet mighthave been worried about paying for a $15 ticket during these veryunsettled economic times. So Flock won't be charging admission for“The Merchant of Venice,” which plays at 7 tonight.

The Colonial Theatre has always done its Westerly runs free ofcharge - Wilcox Park requires that of anyone using the venue. Thisyear, the Colonial is staging a comedy, the lighthearted “AsYou Like It.”

”The Merchant of Venice” is at the Connecticut CollegeArboretum off Williams Street in New London and runs Thursdaysthrough Sundays; call 443-3119. “As You Like It” is atWilcox Park in downtown Westerly and runs Tuesdays to Sundays; call(401) 596-7909. Both shows run through Aug. 3.