We were picked up by bus at 6:30 Saturday morning, dressed in our Saturday finery and carrying pillows. We met the staff at the Folger Library at 7:00, who boarded the bus bearing muffins, grape clusters, juice boxes, and more, and accompanied by spouses in some cases. We chatted, napped, and caught up on our reading during the long ride to Staunton, VA. We stopped in a cute coffee shop, somewhat overwhelming its sleepy staff and then trooped up to Blackfriar's, a corner of which you see pictured above.
The detail to the right is a detail of the roof overhang, which was constructed with wooden pegs rather than nails, as was the recreation of the Globe Theatre in London.
Ralph Allen Cohen, who built the Theatre spoke about it, describing details that make it quite authentic to the theatres of Shakespeare's time, such as that the house is not darkened for performances, and that some audience members sit right up on stage, like our seminar participants behind Mr. Cohen. We also did a bit of work with some of the archaic figures of speech that were in use in Elizabethan times, but may be unknown to us today.We then listened to a fascinating lecture by Paul Menzer, who described his own early days in education, prepping students for a standardized test (the MCATs) and claimed we need idealogical literacy more than cultural literacy. He said that 'verbal reasoning' is how a culture uses language as an opportunity for exclusion or inclusion, and talked about the three caskets that Portia's father in A Merchant of Venice uses as a test suitors must pass in order to win her hand. These caskets, Cohen said, "illustrate the use of proverbial language as a means of exclusion or inclusion but disguises it as destiny or the inevitable." Portia's father has prepared a standardized test. When we examine the three suitors we see this has further parallels, as the local guy passes the test, while the outsiders are excluded from Portia's circle, much to her relief.
After listening to these two gentlemen we retired for a pleasant lunch at tables of four or six, so we weren't subjected to the frustrations of a too large table, and thence, back to the theatre for the production of The Merchant of Venice. There are many things one might say about the production, and quibbles one might make. However, I will limit myself to saying that this emphasized the comedy, in this play that many modern students and viewers have a hard time accepting in that genre. Shylock was quite serious and sympathetic, and a close, even romantic relationship between Antonio and Bassanio was emphasized. Jessica still seemed an outsider, despite all Lorenzo's friends calling her "gentle", and that couple's doubtful future is the final note of the play. There was also modern music, played with feeling from the balcony you see below at up stage. We returned home in the evening, digesting our adventure.
Hi Ms. Hope!
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