Get Thee to “Shakespeare on the Strand”

William Shakespeare feels familiar, as brands and icons often do, but his familiarity has done little to improve his works’ accessibility. Many young people and adults remain intimidated by the language. For them, his playful use of verse and Early Modern English blocks the way to a story rooted in universal themes.  

“Some people don’t even think they have the right to read Shakespeare,” Assistant library director Jennifer Harris said. “We hope to remove some of the fear, and get everyone reading it, everyone enjoying it.

Doing her part to demystify the Bard, Jessica Connelly, the recently retired head of the Manomet Branch, will act as guide on a lively discussion about Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, Saturday, June 25. “Shakespeare on the Strand” will be held at the Manomet Branch Library at 12 Strand Ave. at 2:30 p.m. There is no registration, and the event is free. Refreshments will be served.

Participants are encouraged to come and share their connection with the play. They may bring their own copy of Romeo and Juliet to read from or may have one of the eighteen Modern Library versions available to take.

This event is part of the larger summer initiative, One Play, One Community, organized by the Plymouth Public Library, Plimoth Plantation, and PACTV.  It a collaborative series of programs, including lectures, presentations and assigned readings, culminating in Plimoth Plantation’s all-male Shakespeare company, the Plimoth Players, performing Romeo and Juliet on the Plymouth Public Library’s front lawn. The performance will be live and broadcast by satellite around the country.

Mass Humanities gave a grant for $10,000 to fund One Play, One Community with the goal of reaching a larger audience, including those who never imagined themselves reading Shakespeare. In addition to the summer-long line-up of programs, the money has helped provide basic education versions of Romeo and Juliet for the literacy program and 5,000 One Play, One Community brochures to middle and high schoolers to get them involved.

“I’ve been amazed how many people have come up to me to tell me how important this play has been to them,” Harris said. “A woman from Australia said she saw Romeo and Juliet performed on the Strand in England in college. She was so excited to hear Stephen Greenblatt discuss his book, Will in the World. The response has just been great.”

For more information or to inquire about volunteering opportunities, contact Jennifer Harris at 508-830-4250//TTY 508-747-5882 www.plymouthpubliclibrary.org or visit www.plimoth.org/calendar 2011.

Other One Play, One Community events

June 30: “Shakespeare on the Strand” discussion continues at Manomet Branch with A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of One Play, One Community: Romeo and Juliet.

July 7 – One Play, One Community PAC TV Talk Show Episode One: “Producing All-Male Shakespeare at Plimoth Plantation.”

July 14 – One Play, One Community PAC TV Talk Show Episode Two: “Courtship and Love in Shakespeare’s Day.”

July 18 – “Balcony Slam” at the Main Library.

July 21 – One Play, One Community PACTV Talk Show Episode Three: “Dude Looks Like A Lady: Costuming for the Elizabethan Stage.”

July 28 – “‘Bewitched by the charm of looks’: The Original Costumes for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.” Professor Robert Lublin speaks at Plimoth Plantation on costuming for the original Elizabethan productions of Romeo and Juliet.

July 28 – One Play, One Community PAC TV Talk Show Episode Four: “The Best of the Balcony Slam.”

July 30 – “Shakespeare on the Strand” discussion program continues at Manomet Branch with A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Aug. 1 – Deadline for “New Endings Challenge” submissions.

Aug. 4 – One Play, One Community PAC TV Talk Show Episode Five: “Bard vs. The Board of Education: Finding School Time for Shakespeare.”

Aug. 8 – “The Stars That Crossed The Lovers: Shakespeare and the Heavens.” South Shore Astronomical Society will have four telescopes on the Main Library lawn and will lead an evening of star gazing with specific attention to the celestial realms significant in Shakespeare’s plays.

Aug. 11 – One Play, One Community PAC TV Talk Show Episode Six: “Romeo and Juliet for Twilight Readers.”

Aug. 13 – “Shakespeare on the Strand” discussion program continues at Manomet Branch with The Taming of the Shrew.

Aug. 18 – Bard BQ&A. Free barbecue on the lawn of the Main Library, a chance to meet the Plimoth Players and talk with local English teachers about Shakespeare. Barbecue will conclude with the Plimoth Players performing the winning entries in the “New Endings” challenge.

Aug. 18 – One Play, OneCommunity PAC TV Talk Show Episode Seven: “I Deny You Stars! I Defy You Stars! Which is your right Romeo?”

Aug. 22 – Production at The Library with a prebroadcast performance along with a camera crew from PAC TV.

Aug. 22 – “Editing Romeo and Juliet for the 21st Century,” Professor Eric Rasmussen, guest speaker.

Aug. 25 – Free performance of Romeo and Juliet on Main Library lawn with live simulcast of performance carried by PAC TV.

Aug. 25 – One Play, One Community PAC TV Talk Show Episode Eight: “Cutting for the Stage and Adapting Shakespeare for Television.”

Sept. 19 – “Posthumous Love: The Afterlife of Romeo and Juliet,” Professor Ramie Targoff, guest speaker.