By Eliza Ridgeway

Brent Fafeita/Special to the Town Crier The Shady Shakespeare performance of “The Taming of the Shrew” takes the Bard out west with, from left to right, Gremio (Ross Harkness), Tranio (John Rutski), Baptista (Rich Miller), Petruchio (John Sabine) and Kate (Lucinda Dobinson).

In a shady glen, nestled among woods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a troupe of players are performing Shakespeare this September.

Three local lovers of the Bard founded Shady Shakespeare in 1999 with $1,000 and a dream of outdoor Shakespeare. Seven years later, Shady Shakespeare has a permanent seasonal venue at Sanborn-Skyline County Park, a cast of regular players and weekly audiences that number in the hundreds. The free shows, scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7, alternate in repertory style. This season, whose theme is “Love vs. Fate,” features alternating performances of “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Taming of the Shrew.”

The 10-minute drive from Saratoga to Sanborn Park winds through the wooded foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. At the park, some families will have been set up and picnicking for hours before the show. Youngsters are welcome at the shows, but might not last through the multiple-hour performances - it’s not unusual to see the younger set leaving at intermission.

The short, accessible walk to the outdoor amphitheatre winds through the park and past a stand where the theatre group sells wine, sweets and snacks.

A nearly full complement of seating is set up in the glen, but it fills quickly, and the audience is encouraged to bring picnic blankets and folding chairs to squeeze in around the edges. Bring jackets and sweaters, because the evening cools greatly during the shows. Tucked between redwood trees and a stream, the acoustics in the amphitheater are good but not great, so arriving early for a seat near the stage will ensure you can hear.

A fully constructed two-story stage provides a backdrop to the “Romeo and Juliet” production, which is set in the Italian Renaissance. Shady Shakes’ open-minded casting means that an audience can count on seeing Shakespeare’s beloved roles acted out by players of all genders, colors and kinds. The effect is versatile but not political in “Romeo and Juliet,” where a fiery young woman acts a madcap Mercutio in perfect counterpoint to an icy, controlled Lady Tybalt.

Before taking in a show, adventurers in the area can head farther up the road to Castle Rock State Park on Skyline Road, a premier local spot for strolling, hiking and climbing.

Unusual rock formations, dotted among the park’s redwood, Douglas-fir and madrone trees, make a fun scramble for youngsters and those new to climbing who stay near the ground. For experienced climbers who bring shoes and gear, the larger, more technical routes offer a full afternoon of top rope or lead climbing.

For those in search of a less physical experience, downtown Saratoga makes a low-key weekend destination. On Saturdays about 50 local farmers and artisans set up for the Farmer’s Market on Fruitvale Avenue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Throughout the weekend, Saratoga is a destination for antique hunters who peruse the town’s many shops.

To get to Sanborn-Skyline Park, take Saratoga Avenue (Highway 9) about 5 miles past Saratoga, take a left onto Sanborn Road and follow it for 2 miles. For more information, visit www.shadyshakes.org.