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5 Ways to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday
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The Bard is about to turn 445. But don’t worry Will, they say 445 is the new 330. To celebrate, I’ve compiled 5 awesome ways to get into the Shakespearean spirit. Because Will may have been a less than perfect husband, but his literary legacy is certainly worth toasting- even a few centuries later.1. Take a minute to learn how to read.
Shakespeare that is. As any high school student can tell you, reading Shakespeare and actually understanding it are two very different things. To avoid frustration and to really get renaissance humor, start with an annotated copy of Shakespeare's work that points out what all those obscure references are. For example, this collection of sonnets gives you a modernized version of the text alongside the original, in addition to a brief history lesson and scholarly commentary. All of these things will help bring context and a little more clarity to lines like “Hence will I to my ghostly father’s cell, his help to crave and my dear hap to tell.”
You can’t talk about Shakespeare and not think of Kenneth Branagh. He’s cast himself in Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labor's Lost, and Othello to name just a few. Now you could argue about whether his Hamlet is better than Mel Gibson’s, but I still think any Bard birthday celebration would be amiss without a little Branagh.
3. Try to re-read your favorites.
Or if you don’t have a favorite, try picking up one of the plays you were forced to skim in school. See if they resonate any better or any differently. These titles are pretty accessible if you’re looking for direction:
- Henry IV – a history play, but also a great coming of age tale about growing up and owning up to responsibility.
- Romeo and Juliet – the classic love story that’s been copied a million times, for good reason
- Macbeth – witches, murder, moral intrigue…what else could you ask for?
4. Hear it from a professional.
Reading is good, but the best way to really get Shakespeare is live. Hear 16 professional actors from the Shakespeare Theater Company’s Academy for Classical Acting recite some of Shakespeare’s most famous works tomorrow at noon at the Library of Congress.
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5. Be mirthful and merry!
Where’s the biggest bash for the Bard? This Sunday at the Folger Shakespeare Library – duh. The 30th anniversary of this annual celebration will include jugglers and jesters, music, song and dance, stage combat workshops, and more. Plus there’s free birthday cake! Be there, noon to 4pm.
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