Folger Shakespeare Library's iTunes and big 445th birthday bash for the Bard

April 24, 9:28 AMDC Art Travel ExaminerMarsha Dubrow

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Washington's Folger Shakespeare Library is throwing its 30th annual free birthday party for the Bard, with iTunes, drumrolls, bumrolls, jesters and jugglers, plus cake for all on Sunday April 26. 

To get in the party mood, the esteemed organization has prepared an iTunes playlist of songs inspired by Shakespeare. From Taylor Swift to The Tragically Hip, Bob Dylan to Elvis Costello and The Reflections, play on.  Merely warbling Happy 445th birthday, dear Willie simply won't suffice. 

What fun these Folger mortals (Garland Scott, Tim Swoape, and Amy Arden) had devising the iTunes idea. 

For many of the 20 songs, “Romeo and Juliet” was the main inspiration. Here's a sampling, with "liner notes" by Swoape and Arden:

Two of the chosen songs were inspired by the same two plays, "King Lear" and "Macbeth".

Speaking of Scottish plays, perhaps the Folger's playlist will get almost as much play as that Scottish woman Susan Boyle on "Britain's Got Talent." Oh, may the ghost of Britain's most talented person ever, William Shakespeare, forgive me for that. As he wrote in  “Henry VII”,

Most important, this is the one day a year that the Folger's awe-inspiring reading rooms are open to the public. You can view the "Seven Stages of Man" stained glass window, 16th century Flemish tapestries, and paintings of scenes from his plays.

Renaissance musicians, dancers, and singers will perform throughout the Folger, which will have many children's activities. 

At 3:30, Queen Elizabeth I will cut an enormous cake on the Folger's front lawn. Although neither QE I nor Shakespeare wrote "Let them eat cake", there will be cake for all to eat.

As Puck says in "Midsummer Night's Dream", "Now are frolic".