Shake at the Lake plays Piedmont Park

Arts and Culture

Shake at the Lake returned to Piedmont Park in Atlanta on Wednesday, one of the few traditional events allowed there because of lingering drought conditions. It wasn't quite Shakespeare, though. The Georgia Shakespeare Festival actors presented Carlo Goldoni's 'The Servant of Two Masters.'

The Georgia Shakespeare Festival brings back its popular Shake at the Lake festival to Piedmont Park for a limited five-night run. One of the few events being held in Piedmont during the drought, it's a picnic at the dock on Lake Clara Meer and a performance of a classic play, this time the farce, "The Servant of Two Masters," by Carlo Goldoni.

John Pristell of Navarre, Fla., and Ashlee Anderson of Decatur enjoy the show Wednesday evening.

Cast members Zechariah Pierce (left), Amelia Hammond and Chris Kayser perform in 'The Servant of Two Masters' at opening night of Shake at the Lake.

Among traditional events temporarily excluded from Piedmont Park are the Atlanta Jazz Festival and the Peachtree Road Race. Shake at the Lake got a break because it is restricted to fewer than 1,000 people each night.

Two-year-old Ingrid Cunningham of Atlanta sits in the middle of a family dinner before the show began Wednesday. Family members include, clockwise from lower left; Grandmother Sue Hynes of Bellingham, Wash., dad, Chris Cunningham, mom Solveig Cunningham, and grandfather Bob Hynes also of Bellingham, Wash.

It's a feast of home-cooked food and some takeout before the show begins. Underneath the spread are the knees of, clockwise from lower left, Tommy Firesheets, Mike Gilson, Al Groover and Ken Malone.

Three-year-old Merry Klein enjoys a laugh during a pre-show warmup by the play's cast.

Even though it wasn't a play by Shakespeare, Evelyn Swanson of Midtown brought this book along for inspiration Wednesday.

Amanda Jackson (right) pours some wine for Karen Fowler before the start of the show.

Cast members, Crystal Dickinson, left, and Carolyn Cook on stage at Shake at the Lake Wednesday night.

As the first one into the venue, Mary Wellington of Smyrna races to get a spot up close for her and her guests.

The Georgia Shakespeare Festival performers take the stage just before sunset in front of Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park.

Karen Fowler of Atlanta knows how to get comfortable with a bottle of wine and some classic theater.

Those showing up early got to see a rehearsal of a fight scene between Carolyn Cook, left, and Zechariah Pierce.

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The Georgia Shakespeare Festival brings back its popular Shake at the Lake festival to Piedmont Park for a limited five-night run. One of the few events being held in Piedmont during the drought, it's a picnic at the dock on Lake Clara Meer and a performance of a classic play, this time the farce, "The Servant of Two Masters," by Carlo Goldoni.

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