It looks like we’re in for another beautiful weekend in Washington, though there are so many wonderful theater performances throughout the area that you might want to spend some of it indoors. I’ve got several picks for the week, including the Shakespeare Globe’s tour of “Hamlet,” which will stop in literally every country on the planet. (Seriously, they’re heading to Cuba shortly after the run in Washington!) And if you haven’t yet gotten to Capital Fringe, which I previewed two weeks ago, the shows conclude this weekend and I highly recommend you see Kate Robards‘ “Mandarin Orange,” her one-woman show about her  journey from Orange, Texas, to Shanghai, China. I promise you’ll be laughing about several of her vignettes long after you leave the theater. Get the details on this week’s events in The Washington Times print edition, in PDF format, and below.

Ladi Emeruwa and Naeem Hayat, who share the role of Hamlet in the Globe to Globe world tour. (Photo Courtesy Shakespeare’s Globe)

Get Out: The Week’s Pocket Picks for July 25, 2014

The Washington Times 

By Samantha Sault 

Pick of the Pack: Hamlet

There could be no better experience for the Shakespeare enthusiast than seeing one of the Bard’s plays at Shakespeare’s Globe, the venue located yards from the original Elizabethan theater in London. This weekend, however, the Globe will come to Washington as part of a two-year tour of “Hamlet” that will stop in every country on the planet. In 1599, the Globe opened to the public, though it burned to the ground 14 years later when a cannon prop lit the roof on fire. The theater was rebuilt though subsequently closed (along with every other theater in the city) by the Puritans in 1642. Many centuries later, American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, who got his start playing Shakespearean roles, raised funds to build a new theater and museum at the original site to preserve Shakespeare’s life and works. This version of “Hamlet” has been praised for its young, energetic cast and stripped-down set, and you can catch it for just two nights before it continues to Chicago, New York, the Bahamas and Cuba. Friday and Saturday at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202/544-7077. Web: folger.edu. 

Opera: Carmen

It’s typically very rude to check your iPhone at the opera, but Wolf Trap invites you to use it during Friday’s performance. (You still must keep the sound off, though!) For one night only, the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington Chorus will join Wolf Trap Opera for a new technologically-advanced production of “Carmen” by French composer Georges Bizet. The story follows Don Jose, a Spanish soldier who is seduced by the beautiful Gypsy Carmen to do bad things, leading to a tragic ending fueled by lust and jealousy. Though the production is sung in the original French, it will be quite different than the premiere in 1875, as the producers have utilized MobiTxt technology to allow you to view the English supertitles on your smart phone, tablet or Google Glass. If you don’t want to be bothered by the glowing screens, however, don’t worry—certain sections will remain device-free. Friday at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. 877/965-3872. Web: wolftrap.org. 

Festival: Kaypi Peru Festival

On a hot summer day, no cocktail is quite as refreshing as the Pisco sour, made with the clear Peruvian brandy and lime juice, sugar, egg whites and bitters. Beginning Tuesday, you can learn how to make your own—and discover a variety of other facets of Peruvian culture during the free Kaypi Peru (“This Is Peru”) Festival. The Embassy of Peru and Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru will join with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian to highlight the country’s rich heritage. The museum will host a daily art market showcasing 19 artisans from around Peru selling jewelry, fashion items, housewares and more. While you’re there, enjoy traditional folk dance and music performances, hands-on arts and crafts, lectures about conservation in the Andes and the Amazon, photography exhibits and film screenings. And if you’re craving that cocktail, visit the museum’s café for food and beverages by the Embassy of Peru’s chef. Through Aug. 3 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth St. & Independence Ave. SW. 202/633-1000. Web: nmai.si.edu. 

Circus: Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna

“Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women,” said Cirque du Soleil Director of Creation Fernand Rainville of the entertainment franchise’s 32^nd show, which opens at the Big Top at Washington’s National Harbor on Thursday. Directed by Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus (“Pippin”), “Amaluna” features a cast and band primarily of women and celebrates the complex ideas of femininity, birth and mother-daughter relationships. The show tells the story of Amaluna, a mythical island governed by goddesses who revere the cycles of the moon. “I didn’t want to build a ‘women’s agenda’ show,” said Ms. Paulus. “I wanted to create a show with women at the center of it, something that had a hidden story that featured women as the heroines.” Showcasing Cirque du Soleil’s signature, awe-inspiring brand of performance art and acrobatics, the show is one that women (and men) of all ages will love. Through Sept. 21 at the Plateau at the National Harbor, 300 Waterfront St., Oxon Hill, Md. 800/450-1480. Web: cirquedusoleil.com. 

Dining: Appetite Festival
You’ll want to make plans now for happy hour next Friday—and skip the half-price appetizers, because Italian celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis of “Food Network” fame will be in town to cook and answer your questions. Next weekend, foodies will take over Strathmore Hall for Appetite: A Gastronomic Experience. In addition to Giada, Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” will be on hand on Saturday for cooking demonstrations and a discussion of eating around the world. In addition to the headliners, attendees will enjoy discussions and demos by favorite local chefs and restaurants, food trucks, a craft beer garden and live music by local musicians like the 19^th Street Band and Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band. If you’re really hungry, you can spring for the VIP all-access weekend pass, which includes choice seats for the events as well as meet-and-greet sessions with the celebrity chefs and access to a private lounge. Next Friday and Saturday, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md. 301/581-5100. Web: strathmore.org. 

© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC and Samantha Sault