Celebrating the Bard with music, town criers, sword fighting and more
Published 5:03 pm Monday, March 5, 2012
At the tail end of March, Eastsound will be transformed into a scene straight out of the 1500s.
The Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting its first annual spring Shakespeare Festival complete with roaming street performers, music, performances by the Seattle Shakespeare Company and a lot of colorful, whimsical decorations.
“For me, it’s been wonderful because it’s something that I love to do. I feel like I’ve been given the island to play with,” said volunteer Jane Alden, who has been steering the creative aspects of the event. “It’s been very stimulating.”
The chamber’s goal is to provide an event during the shoulder season as well as a cultural offering to the community. The festival is being publicized nationally and throughout the state, so visitors are expected from near and far.
Ultimately, the chamber wants the festival to be one of its annual events, like the July 4th and Tree-Lighting celebrations.
“It’s a community event and if people are looking for something exciting to do during this time of year, this is the place to be,” said Chamber President Michell Marshall.
On March 30, Seattle Shakespeare will perform “Romeo and Juliet” for students, followed by a workshop. The company is providing a scholarship so all Orcas students can attend the performance free of charge. On March 31, the company will present “Hamlet” at Orcas Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 students. The chamber is hosting an appetizer and wine reception prior to the play at 6 p.m. Orcas a Cappella will be performing as well.
The performances are considered a jewel in a much larger event that is primarily happening on Saturday, March 31. There will be musicians visiting businesses throughout Eastsound, actors performing Shakespeare vignettes, sword-fights, town criers and decorations. Alden even has arranged for greeters to welcome visitors off the 8:25 a.m. ferry. Local businesses are getting into the action as well. Several merchants are joining together to be the “Ophelias of A Street.”
A mini farmers market will be set up in the Village Green and an empty storefront (formerly Eastsound Instruments) in the post office building is being turned into the “Bard Gallery” with local art both Shakespearean-themed and not. It will be open until the end of April; hours are 1 to 4 p.m. An opening reception will be held on March 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. with small bites from Sazio as well as wine. Donations are welcome.
Chamber board member Mary Noesen spearheaded the gallery effort.
“Art is about soul,” Noesen said. “I read this quote by Tom Robbins that talked about soul being a mix of a wolf howl, a photon and a dribble of dark molasses. That is what Shakespeare is. He is soulful. He dealt with the mystery of being alive.”
The island’s premier funky soul band, the Orcas Horns, is throwing a Renaissance-themed dance party on March 31 at the Oddfellows Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. and music starts at 8 p.m. In keeping with the spirit of the festival, attendees are encouraged to make merry dressed as characters from around the time of Shakespeare. Traditional beverages such as mead, cider and ale will be sold by the Orcas Island Education Foundation, with proceeds going to the Farm to Cafeteria Program. The Kitchen will prepare food with proceeds donated to Haiti relief. Tickets are $12 at Darvill’s Bookstore or $15 on the night of the event.
“The momentum has been brilliant to watch as it grows,” said Alden, who has worked extensively on Shakespeare material as a performer and teaching classes and directing plays with children and adults. “It started with six of us wanting to do this … and the enthusiasm and interest and excitement has grown and grown. Pretty much everyone knows about it now. Everyone seems to think it’s a wonderful idea.”
