Rose of Athens' 'Comedy of Errors' Production Filled with Laughter, Slapstick

Rose of Athens Theatre's production of "Comedy of Errors" opened at Ashford Manor in Watkinsville, Ga., Wednesday. The play is an adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's earliest works.

Mistaken identities, lost twins and slapstick can all be found in Rose of Athens Theatre's "Comedy of Errors," which opened Wednesday at Ashford Manor. The play follows the tale of two sets of twins, separated in childhood, as they befuddle citizens of Ephesus through a series of comical mishaps. Part of the theatre's annual "Shakespeare on the Lawn" production, the adaptation combines 1940s costuming and humor with Elizabethan themes.  "[The play's] one of Shakespeare's earlier comedies," said Danielle Miller, program coordinator for Rose of Athens and Adriana in the play. "I don't want to say that there's an amateur style but it was when he first started writing. But the directing style is very visual. Even if you can't immediately …

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Photo Gallery: Shona Sculpture on the Lawn

An outdoor sculpture exhibit featuring 16 Zimbabwean artists at Ashford Manor.

Ashford Manor and Mbare, Ltd. have brought to downtown Watkinsville a unique stone sculpture exhibit featuring 16 contemporary Zimbabwean sculptors.   The self-guided tour of sculptures through the gardens is a rare and unique opportunity for the community to see a piece of Zimbabwae without leaving town.   All artwork is for sale and can be purchased through Mbare, Ltd., a local Athens business, and a portion of the proceeds will be divided between the Zimbabwean artists and Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation.  The sculptures will be on display through Oct. 31 and the event is free and open to the public.  Several of the pieces are featured in the adjoining picture gallery, but there are many more pieces to discover.   For more information, …

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Andrea Williams

1:58 pm on Monday, October 3, 2011

Harrison and Hayden and I visited the garden on Saturday and very much enjoyed the art as well as the grounds of Ashford Manor   more ›

Shakespeare on the Lawn: "As You Like It"

Performances under the stars presented by Ashford Manor and Rose of Athens Theatre.

The Rose of Athens Theatre opened its third annual Shakespeare on the Lawn performance at Ashford Manor June 8.   Shakespeare's zany comedy, "As You Like It," is the production this year, and Oconee Patch was invited to attend a special media viewing of the play on June 7.   The cast, crew and production staff were wonderful and with the picnic-like atmosphere that Ashford Manor provides, a good time for all is almost guaranteed. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. for those who wish to get good seats and perhaps bring a picnic dinner and the show starts at 8 p.m.  The show will run through June 12 and tickets are available online or at the door.

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Viewfinder: Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn Opening Event

Grogus helps kick off Ashford Manor's annual summer concert series.

Ashford Manor began its 11th annual Concerts on the Lawn series Wednesday night. Multi-talented Athens band, Grogus, put concert-goers in a festive early Cinco de Mayo mood with their Latin, Afro-Cuban, traditional Cuban, and Caribbean styles. The concerts, sponsored this year by Athens First Bank & Trust, are a great way for music lovers of all ages to come out with family, friends, or significant others and enjoy the warm summer evenings, favorite foods and beverages that you can bring, and exceptional music of all varieties.   To see which band will be playing next, visit Ashford Manor's Concert Schedule. Tickets may also be purchased in advance on-line.

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Viewfinder: Vintage Cars Come to Watkinsville

Cabin Fever Car Club chose Watkinsville as one of the stops on their annual tour.

The Cabin Fever Car Club made a quick stop in Watkinsville at Ashford Manor on April 12. Members of the club are mainly from the mid-west, but hometowns range from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, New York, to Georgia. Of the 20-50 participants that are part of the club, this year 13 members traveled on the annual Cabin Fever Car Tour.  The tour usually takes place at the end of March or the beginning of April, and south of the Mason-Dixson line is a favorite area to tour.   Patrick and Sandy Ainslie, this year's tour organizers, said that the club loves coming to Georgia for the abundance of paved back roads and the hospitality of the people.  Usually a home-base town, or "tour central," is designated and each day the tour drives 30-45 miles an …

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About Oconee

Ashford Manor to Host 11th Season of Concerts on the Lawn

The Watkinsville bed and breakfast begins its top-notch concert series this year with Grogus on May 4.

The best kept secret in Georgia may not be so unknown for much longer. For over a decade people have been coming to Watkinsville in droves, parking everywhere from the Oconee County Courthouse to various churches so they can attend the most popular attraction this town has to offer. Watkinsville's Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast has been a cherished jewel in the heart of the city just off Main Street and Harden Hill Road, snuggled discretely behind Ashford Memorial Methodist Church. The five-acre estate encompasses much more than the lovely 1893 mansion with a half dozen gorgeous and well-appointed rooms ready to accommodate overnight guests with a new online booking system. My favorite rooms are the penthouse suite and the garden rooms, …

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Dan Matthews

7:52 am on Friday, April 8, 2011

Ashford Manor does a great job putting together these shows   more ›

About Oconee

Oconee Roads Would Improve with T-SPLOST Approval

Watkinsville might get badly needed sidewalks and pave some roads if regional transportation plans receive the 'OK' at various levels and by the local voters in 2012.

Nobody I know likes to pay taxes. However, a penny taxed for transportation is a penny saved toward improvements for counties and municipalities if the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is approved by the voters of Oconee County in 2012. Oconee County government has its own list, but this column will be devoted toward the plans of the City of Watkinsville. Watkinsville is especially in need of sidewalks for streets such as Whitehall/Simonton Bridge and the connecting Harden Hill Road. The municipal government, and in particular Police Chief Lee O'Dillon, have done as much as they can to make pedestrians safe in this somewhat high traffic area, with the crosswalk on Harden Hill to the entrance to Ashford Manor Bed and …

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