What’s more Rose Table than wine, theatre, and a fabulous themed picnic? It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Shakespeare Dallas (so much so that they made me their publicist years ago) but The Importance of Being Earnest hands down is one of my favorite SD productions to date! My friend Hope and I had the best time noshing on tea sandwiches and laughing the night away.

The Picnic

When I heard that there were cucumber sandwiches and tea time in the show, I knew I had to pack a little tea party-themed picnic. I brought my favorite rose picnic blanket, custom Rose Table tote bag, and white roses with greenery, which looked lovely with the picnic blanket.

I considered taking one of my tiered tea serving trays but opted instead to take lightweight silver platters from Thrift for Good to give that same old-fashioned elegance that was far less cumbersome.

The Wine

I chose Chandon Brut Rosé because bubbles are always a good idea on a picnic. This dry sparkling rosé has notes of watermelon, strawberry, and cherry, perfect for a summer picnic!

The Food

I made tarragon chicken salad and my famous white chocolate lemon bars the night before, scones that morning, and then all I had to do was make a couple of sandwiches before heading to the park!

Menu

Cucumber Sandwiches
Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
Chicken Salad Croissants
Tzatziki and Veggies
Vanilla Buttermilk Scones
White Chocolate Lemon Bars
Mini Angel Food Cakes

I don’t think I’ve ever packed up a tea party-inspired picnic before! This easy array of tasty treats hit the spot on this breezy summer night.

I spontaneously added an easy angel food cake dessert to the menu: store bought cake shells topped with vanilla whipped cream, summer berries, and mint from my garden.

The Show

This is hands down one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at Shakespeare Dallas! The hysterical rom com, directed by Jenni Stewart, had us laughing all night long. Tommy Stuart was sensational as Earnest/Jack. He didn’t waste one minute of his time on stage, adding nuance to even the simplest moment with comedic timing that was a joy to watch. Brandon Whitlock was hilarious as Algernon, garnering uproarious laughter.

Caitlin Chapa gave it her all as Gwendolyn, leaning into the raunchiest bits of the character, much to my delight. Lily Gast as Cecily was part Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers and part Moaning Myrtle pre-moaning and it totally worked. Nicole Berastequi brought gravitas to the show as Lady Bracknell and Elizabeth Evans stole every scene she was in as Miss Prism.

Shakespeare in the Park runs now through July 18th. Catch The Importance of Being Earnest or Othello this summer! Want more? Watch the episode!

Happy picnicking,

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