PETERBOROUGH — Actors’ Circle Theatre’s Saturday opening of its fifth anniversary Shakespeare in the Park production was met with torrential rain, thunder and lightning.

“Pretty ironic that we got rained out by an actual tempest,” said Chris McCartie, director of this year’s production of “The Tempest.”

“It was a pretty wild storm, thunder and lightning overhead. It was pretty dramatic.”

There had only been a 20 percent chance of rain forecast, he said, and the actors have performed through passing showers before.

Suffice to say, the show was canceled. Turns out, though, that even if the community theater had decided ahead of time to use its rain location, the Peterborough Historical Society, the show still would have been canceled since the storm caused a power outage in downtown Peterborough that night.

Sunday’s show was performed in the historical society’s Bass Hall.

“Everything went swimmingly and we got a standing ovation,” said Mia Moravis, the actress playing Ariel.

The actors hope to perform in the park this Saturday and Sunday as intended, but with or without the location in Depot Park, the show will go on, McCartie said. “It’s the same show. It’s a good show indoors or out.”

The show has action, comedy, magic and a love story and is for the whole family, he said.

“The nice thing about this show, there’s a little bit of something for everyone. Like any (Shakespeare) show there are long passages of prose and poetry, but there are also scenes with broad, accessible comedy the adults will appreciate for the wordplay, but children will appreciate the physical humor,” McCartie said.

“The Tempest” will be performed at 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in Depot Park. If the weather turns foul, the rain location will be posted in the park, McCartie said.

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Meghan Pierce may be reached at mpierce@newstote.com.