Save the date: Shakespeare Fest

Published 1:43 pm Tuesday, January 7, 2014

With each passing year, the Shakespeare Festival has grown.

Now in its third year, the chamber-sponsored event is from March 18 to 22. There will be live performances, vendors, food and entertainment in the Village Green, a parade through Eastsound and lots of costumes.

This year’s festival is directed by Robert Hall with help from a crew of volunteers, actors and artists. The event was originally launched to bring more visitors to the island during the off season.

Here is a sampling of the offerings:

• Jake Perrine is directing the comedy “Complete Works of William Shakespeare” at Random Howse from March 18 to 20.

• The Seattle Shakespeare Company will present “Romeo and Juliet” for Orcas High School students on March 21 and “Othello” at Orcas Center on March 22.

• The festival is partnering with Orcas Crossroads to bring in a professor from George Washington University for a lecture on March 21. Ayanna Thompson will present “Othello in the 21st Century: To Perform or Not to Perform?” at 7:30 p.m. at Orcas Center.

“Othello is the best-known black character in Shakespeare’s plays, a traditional role of dignity for black actors,” says Thompson. “But racial stereotypes of the 17th century create some discomfort among 21st century audiences.”

The lecture will explore historical and contemporary performances of the play in light of this discomfort.

• March 22 will begin with a parade along North Beach Road, and there will be vendors on the Village Green from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Watch the Sounder for more details.