It's a classic tale of men swearing off women, then falling hopelessly in love at first sight.

But director Sharon Malone knew what the show really needed was pirates - and a 20-foot airship.

"We were sitting around in my living room, discussing the concept [for the play], and I said, 'what I envision is a 20-foot airship that flies into the bandstand,' and of course everybody looks at me like I'm from another planet."

Malone is the director of Love's Labour's Lost, and president of the Emerald Pig Theatrical Society.

This year, Bard on the Bandstand mixes Shakespeare with "steam punk" - a term coined in the late 1980s that refers to the combining of historical elements with sci-fi, fantasy, and other fictional details.

While the script remains true to The Bard's words (with a few deletions to keep the length of the show reasonable), Malone noted that anyone can understand what's happening from watching the action on the stage.

"Even though kids, and some adults, won't understand the language, they will still understand [the show] because of all the physical movement."

Malone describes the play's theme as "opposites attract."

"It seemed like the guys in the show could be like the guys in the TV show: The Big Bang Theory, they are a little geeky," she said.

Performed on both the Pitt Meadows Spirit Square and Memorial Peace Park bandstands, bring a lawn chair and a blanket to watch the antics of King Ferdinand and his three friends. The four men are confounded when the princess and her entourage arrive as tough, sexy, independent, and mischievous airship pirates.

Both Maple Ridge Councillor Corisa Bell and Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters will take stints at being pirate girls.

"The men don't know what to do," said Malone of the characters of Ferdinand and his friends.

Costume designer Charlene Rowley probably didn't know what to do at first either with Shakespeare meets sci-fi. The clothier for the 25 actors and dancers just came off a win for best costumes for the award winning production A Particular Class of Women.

Choreographer, Susan Mitchell, was equally challenged with getting girls to dance with guns around an airship.

"We have an amazing team," Malone said. "It's magic, it will all be fabulous next week."

The cast is primarily local with 80 to 90 per cent coming from the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows region. Sometimes they can be seen practising at the two locations prior to opening night. Monday night they were seen rehearsing in Pitt Meadows.

Take in Bard on the Bandstand 2012: Love's Labour's Lost in Pitt Meadows July 19 to 21 at Spirit Square with preshow entertainment at 6: 30 p.m., showtime 8 p.m. and the July 22 matinee with preshow entertainment at noon and showtime 1 p.m.

In Maple Ridge, see the show at Memorial Peace Park July 26 to 28 with preshow entertainment at 6: 30 p.m., showtime 8 p.m. and the July 29 matinee with preshow entertainment at noon and showtime 1 p.m.

Malone reminds audience members to bring a donation for the Friends In Need Food Bank when they come out to enjoy, "a fun summer romance."

editorial@mrtimes.com