Second First Folio Post

 

I hate to say this because it is such a cliché, but I thought it would be bigger. I guess it makes sense that it is not. But apart from that it was all I expected it to be; or, rather, my reaction to it was all that I expected it to be. I mean, here I was in a room with a book that was probably touched by people who probably touched William Shakespeare. Not since I stood in the room in which he was born have I been that close to him. Was kind of disappointed by the rest of the exhibit, however – just a few placards and such. I see why there was no entrance fee.

I was disappointed in the attendance too. There were about five of us there. There should have been lines. Lines! It’s Shakespeare! And I guess if I am being truly honest, I am kind of disappointed I did not meet the chauffeur of my dreams there. Because, yes, that one percent of me that still believes it might yet happen, was hoping for the ultimate meet cute. Seriously, for me, Shakespeare nerd that I am, how cool would it have been if I had met someone there? But nope. Oh well.

 

First First Folio Post

 

My love for William Shakespeare is legendary. He’s the person I’d choose if I could meet anyone who ever lived (although sometimes, when Sammy is having a spazz, I would like to meet the bastard who abused him, so I could abuse him (or her)). One of my most prized possessions is a poster of the title page of the First Folio. I bought it when I was 17 or 18, on a day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. It has adorned the walls of countless apartments in two countries, three states, and five cities. It is torn and tattered and stained by that blue sticky poster-hanging stuff and a rum and Coke cocktail (long story) but I wouldn’t exchange it for a thousand brand new ones. I am fond of his sonnets but the plays are the things for me. Macbeth was the first I studied in detail so it holds a special place in my heart. But… Twelfth Night contains my all-time favorite line –“I was adored once too”. But…  Richard II was the play I saw in Strafford-upon-Avon. But… The Tempest contains one of my favorite speeches – Caliban’s “I cried to dream again”. But… King Lear I saw in London, with Anthony Hopkins in the title role. But…

 

Hamlet, oh Hamlet, that is the one for me. For many, many reasons, not the least of which is I got some action because of it (another long story, worthy of a post all of its own but TLDR: I crushed on and then stalked and then got to third base with the actor who played Hamlet in a local production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (only third base because I was 17 and he was married)).

 

Where was I? Oh, yeah, so Hamlet would be the gun-to-the-head choice as my favorite play. It is fitting then, and cool and ironic, that this Saturday I will be standing in a room with an original First Folio and it will be opened to Hamlet’s world-famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy. To say I am excited is an understatement. It’s part of a nationwide tour celebrating Billy Shakes’ (his rap name were he alive today) 400th-ish birthday and it is making a stop at the library on the campus where I work (deets here). Because of size limitations tickets (free, but this is one thing I would have paid to see (that right there tells you how much I love Shakespeare because you all know how cheap I am)) had to be booked in advance for a specific day and time. I chose the Saturday afternoon of the three-day holiday weekend because well, I hate three-day holiday weekends (three days of boredom, loneliness and misery instead of the usual two). I‘m so excited! I have my whole day planned around it, what I am going to do before (not much and won’t eat either so I don’t get an oops-I-crapped-my-pants moment) and afterwards (eat, mainly, and drink, of course). Oh I am excited.