Is Shakespeare just "Words, words, mere words"?

Recent comments from the dean of a small liberal arts college remind us why Shakespeare's mastery of language is not just "Words, words, mere words," (Hamlet, Act II, Scene II) but still resonates today.

If the curriculum is to be a useful instrument in perfecting nature, then there are certain elements in it that will remain substantially the same, given the essential aspects of human nature, namely, the capacity for thought and reflection and the ability to express those thoughts.  Language is the tool that we use for thinking, making comparisons, discovering relations, and communicating them to others.  Thus, language, with its functions of communication and thought, must form the core of the general education curriculum.

Midsummer Night’s Dream Cast List

Theseus--- Benjamin Moats*

Hippolyta--- Marie Ard*

Egeus---Gregory Mueller*

Hermia--- Kathleen McCarthy*

Lysander--- Ethan Stevenson

Demetrius--- Lucas Stevenson*

Helena--- Emilie Jordan*

Puck--- Doug Griffin

Oberon--- Eric Stevenson

Titania--- Rebecca Stevenson

Nick Bottom--- Patrick Murtha*

Peter Quince--- Tim Akers*

Francis Flute--- Brad Voth*

Robin Starveling--- Ed Goff

Tom Snout--- Matthew Baer*

Snug--- Marcel Haynos*

Philostrate--- Brian O’Leary

Peaseblossom--- Robin Sullivan*

Cobweb--- Therese McCarthy*

Moth---Marcia Stevenson*

Mustardseed--- Brigitte Parks*

Oberon’s Court--- Stephen Jordan*

Oberon’s Court--- Peter Stamos*
Oberon's Court---Maryck Lynn*

On behalf of the Producer and the Director, I would like to extend a most hearty thanks to all those who participated in the auditions for this year's production of Midsummer Night's Dream!

A Midsummer Night's Dream practices to begin

Practices for A Midsummer Night's Dream begin in St. Marys the first week of August.  Let the fun begin!

Murdoch a tragic King Lear?

Is Rupert Murdoch a tragic King Lear?  Michael Witmore of the Folger Shakespeare Library in D.C. says no: "Tragedy involves sympathetic characters who have gone wrong, but eventually come to self-knowledge... Murdoch is not being portrayed this way in the media... Murdoch seems to me more like Claudius in the play Hamlet.  Claudius has gotten control of the kingdom through guile, and puts Hamlet under surveillance... Claudius ends up being 'hoist on his own petard.'"

The link to the audio interview is here.  Ah, "Those few, those unscrupulous few, that band of hackers."

A Midsummer Night's Dream auditions July 18

Auditions for Dream were Friday, July 15th and will be Monday July 18th, starting at 6:00 PM in the St. Mary's College Auditorium. If you are interested in trying out for a part, email shakespeareunderthestars@gmail.com by Monday, July 11th for an audition time slot (walk-ins are VERY welcome, but please note that priority will be given to those with a scheduled time slot).

Note also, if you have a special scheduling need, please mention this in your email so that we can work with it as much as possible.

Bring a practiced monologue or be prepared to read random tracts from the works of Shakespeare.

*Please feel free to pass these dates on to anyone in the St. Marys or extended communities that you think might be interested in either auditioning or volunteering!

Benefit concert raises $1,840.00

The Shakespeare Under the Stars Benefit Concert was a success and raised $1,840!  The event took place on Sunday, June 26 on the Common in downtown St. Marys, Kansas.  Proceeds from the concert went towards purchasing much needed sound equipment for upcoming plays.

Language, Aristotle, and the Matrix

Why Shakespeare? The man died 395 years ago, and yet his plays are performed over and over. There are many reasons for the Bard's enduring popularity, including his profound grasp of human emotion and psychology, his humor, and the historical aspect he introduced into many of his plays. But many commentators site his grasp of language as his defining characteristic.

Hamlet in prison...

Just a caught a fascinating program this weekend from This American Life on National Public Radio: 218: Act V (Hamlet in Prison).

The audio story followed a group of convicts at a high-security prison for six months as they rehearsed and then performed Act V of Shakespeare's Hamlet.  Interesting to hear in the time-lapse segments how the dialogue developed over the six months.  From the website:

Shakespeare might seem like an odd match for a group of hardened criminals, but Jack found that they understand the Bard on a level that most of us might not.  It's a play about murder and its consequences, performed by murderers, living out the consequences.

This weekend's program was originally aired August 9, 2002.  Find the program here (note: because of the prison environment, some of the content deals with mature themes).

A Midsummer Night's Dream coming in September

After a wonderful inaugural production last fall, Shakespeare Under the Stars is bringing Mr. Shakespeare back to the St. Marys Golf Course this coming September. Tim Akers will direct the ever-popular A Midsummer Night's Dream, which will be produced by Ben Moats and designed and staged by Eric Stevenson. The trio brought down the house last year and aim to expand this year.

Auditions for Dream are at 6:00 PM, Friday, July 15 in the St. Mary's College auditorium, St. Marys. The director asks that actors bring a monologue or be prepared to read random soliloquies from the Bard's works.  Email: shakespeareunderthestars@gmail.com for more information or directions.

Shrew media

A few area media stories that covered The Taming of the Shrew...

Topeka Capital Journal: Bard Plays Through at the Links

St. Marys Star: Comedy slated for September

St. Marys Star:  Shakespeare Draws Large Audience

St. Marys Star:  Production Profitable for Memorial Renovation

Facebook: Kansas Rural Communities Foundation