THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090211
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: 70 lines
The buffoon in a lion's costume really is a Portsmouth pediatrician in disguise in the Summer Shakes production of ``A Midsummer Night's Dream,'' now playing in Virginia Beach.
Dr. Al Aymer is cast as Snug the Joiner, who plays the lion in a play within the play. And, as soon as the Shakespeare run is over, he'll be moving on to The Actor's Theatre production of ``Loot.''
Already this year, he has appeared in productions at the Portsmouth Little Theater and the Norfolk Little Theater.
``I've played everything from a priest to a homosexual,'' he said. ```Loot' is the fourth show in a row I've been cast in. My wife wants me to take a break.''
Aymer's wife, Anita, is a counselor at Churchland High School, advising students headed for college.
The Aymers returned to Portsmouth two years ago.
Fourteen years ago, Aymer did his residency in pediatrics at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
His acting gigs came later.
``About six years ago, my daughter, Kirsten, got me into it,'' he said. ``And I find it fascinating.''
Kirsten, now 18, is a graduate of the Governor's School for the Arts and is now headed for Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. The Aymers also have a 20-year-old son.
Last summer, father and daughter both were cast in ``The Taming of the Shrew'' produced by Summer Shakes Inc.
``The arts and theater are very important to our society,'' Aymer said. ``They are grossly under-appreciated - and under-funded. The arts are not fluff as some people seem to think.''
Painting and sculpture ``teach kids an appreciation for the environment,'' he said, and theater ``gives them a depth of language and tolerance for others.''
``And good music gives us beauty in our lives,'' he added.
Aymer said he had no childhood aspirations to become an actor.
``If I had, I wouldn't be a doctor now,'' he said.
Still he enjoys the stage. A very small honorarium comes with the roles in Summer Shakes and Actor's Theater, which makes those jobs ``semi pro,'' but he does his acting for fun.
Summer Shakes was founded in 1993 by a professional actress and producer, Ann Russell ``Russ'' Taylor, as a nonprofit theatrical company with a goal of providing quality family entertainment.
The first season in 1994 was a run of Neil Simon's ``The Star Spangled Girl'' at the Virginia Beach 24th Street Stage. In 1995, the company staged a showcase of plays: ``The Taming of the Shrew,'' ``Romeo and Juliet'' and ``I Hate Hamlet.''
Also in 1995, the company created an apprenticeship program in which children, ages 7 to 15, performed Shakespeare for schools in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. The program, called ``Shakespeare Goes Elementary,'' was taped by Cox Communications for entry in the national Cable Beacon Award.
The current show opened July 30. Weather permitting, an outdoor performance will begin at 8 p.m. today at the Francis Land House.
Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Aug. 14-16 and 21-23 at the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts. In addition, the Norfolk Naval Base has booked a 3 p.m. matinee Aug. 18.
All performances are free and open to the public. For information about Virginia Beach performances, call 425-1154, and for information about the Naval Base performance, call 444-0995. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Dr. Al Aymer, left, Summer Shakes founder ``Russ'' Taylor and Jim
Luker of Chesapeake check directions for ``A Midsummer Night's
Dream.'' by CNB