Midwest Shakespeare Fest Falling Short

The Bloomington-based Illinois Shakespeare Festival has some serious challenges to face, not the least of which is this summer’s volatile weather, which has left several of the outdoor fest’s productions all wet. “The initial promise of this space as a festival environment — offering the chance to see several shows in a weekend, filling the gardens with picnickers and attracting audiences from Chicago — has yet to be fulfilled. In a town with few bucolic attractions, this theater seems underused.”