Last Shakespeare-Oxford gathering of 2010

The Seattle-Oxford-Shakespeare discussion group had a fruitful year.

We read and discussed Looney, Anderson, and various authors published in Brief Chronicles;
attended authorship conferences in Portland and Ashland; and passed around Cougar gold and Roe's "Guide to Italy." A full report would be delightful but might not be forthcoming.
Let's just say, "You had to be there."

So, don't miss the last meeting of the year:
We'll be in the back room of DelFino's Pizzeria between 6:30 and 7:00 pm
Wednesday December 15th

Here is Sam's announcement: Note the emphasis on the merry hall roaring with drink and laughter.

DelFino's Pizzeria is located near the north entrance to Barnes and Noble in the University Village.
All persons who love Shakespeare and truth are invited and welcome.
Backsliders are welcome too, especially at this meeting because:.

• this will be the evening when we assemble for the final time in the year MMX.
• A Large thin-crust Vegitarian, and a large thin-crust Pepperoni pizza and a few pitchers of beer will be ordered preemptively for those of us who do not wish to order a separate meal.

(1) Our program will provide: an opportunity for the hoipolloi to obtain a glance at Kathryn Sharpe' s single, precious, enviable, advance copy of "The Shakespeare Guide to Italy Then and Now" by Richard Paul Roe. [It will be due out to us, general riffraff, next September.]

(2) Sam will recapitualate the most pressing needs AND LATEST TRIUMPHS of the Shakespeare Fellowship as revealed during the most recent Board of Trustees meeting.

(3)Tom Coad will present a short overview of the Shakespeare Authorship Question from his point of view.
(Note from Kathryn: What I told Sam was to let Tom talk without interruption for at least 10 minutes, as a reward for so generously funding Cheryl Egan-Donovon's filming in Italy.)

(4) A review/discussion will be held of the recently seen, innovative SSC production of Hamlet, vis-a-vis the OSF production of Hamlet as viewed by those attending the Shakespeare Fellowship Annual meeting in Ashland in October 2010.

• This will accord us an opportunity to hear Kathryn Wilson's discussion of some of the contents of the on-line Volume II of Brief Chronicles,
  
• including Michael Delahoyde's review of theBeauclerk book therin, as well as an Oxfordian version of Hamlet in preparation.
• A comparison of the pernicious influence of the controversial book Shakespeare's Lost Kingdom by Charles Beauclerk to the authorship question with that of Looney can be made.

(5) We will, of course, have an opportunity for each of us to present our own most recent, decisive bit of evidence on the Shakespeare Authorship Question [to the shame of all those who still disagree with us]

But most importantly, we will all have an opportunity to "break bread", and share a few pitchers of Widmer Brother's Hefeweisen, while conversing with some of the most astute minds in the Seattle area, and then to exchange `Season's Best' with some of the finer people.

(Note from Kathryn: Hmmmm? I'm losing you here Sam. I hope you mean we're all astute and fine. Of course you do. But the text does not support it.

And I don't think those who disagree are shamed by any of this--even when our ideas are based on evidence. Why should they feel shame? What person that they respect will tell them their belief is wrong? None. Why should they alter a story they prefer, why should they listen to ours? No reason. At least, none they can see, or if they do, they will advance their theories in private. No reason to stick a neck out if it can be avoided.

Besides, there's no rush to have the truth go viral. Let me get some of my plodding research done before the epidemic.)

Please join us,
Kathryn

Hero or Hoax

The March 27th issue of "The Economist" reviews James Shapiro's book, "Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?" http://www.economist.com/culture/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15767439

Nonie Sharpe sent me a copy, with the last words of the review underlined in black pen: "Beyond that is imagination. In essence, that's what the book is about." Yes, and the author would like to think it's Shakespeare's imagination he's lauding, but it's his own. He partakes liberally of the endless ability of Stratfordian supporters to imagine the impossible. The real author, the Earl of Oxford, did not need so much imagination--he had data, first-hand observations, and access to the people and books that permeate Shakespeare's world.

Most interesting to me in the short review is this tidbit, "Bacon and Looney developed their theories in a spirit of religious doubt, and in the throes of their own personal crises." As though that disqualifies their theories! You'd have to erase a lot of civilization if we couldn't advance, test, or produce evidence in support of any theory that was developed in a spirit of religious doubt or during a personal crisis.

Boar Earrings

Need a perfect present for an Oxfordian lady? Take a look at these gold-plated boar earrings, made from two Bermuda pennies. The coin cutter is a Seattle man who sells on ETSY, and I'm considering asking him to make me a pair in silver. They would be the perfect thing to sport at the upcoming Oxfordian conference in Houston, where it's more than acceptable to put on the pig.

Here is Wally's little boar:
A Cut Above Coins:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28672450

ETSY is a craftsman's paradise, well known to us because our daughter Emily has two shops there, including this one featuring cut stones set in recycled silver and gold:
Pearl Everlasting:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6132900

I think we'll see a rise in Oxfordian items as the authorship transfers. How about a coffee cup with an images that changes from Stratford mask to Oxford's portrait as the "heat is applied"? I have the copyright.
Kathryn

Shakespeare, Interrupted. NOT.

Don't miss the online version of an August 09 article Shakespeare, Interrupted in Scientific American by Michael Shermer. He dismisses the authorship question, concluding:

"...Reasonable doubt is not enough to dethrone the man from Stratfordupon-Avon, and to date, no overwhelming case has been made for any other author."

(Is that a new pseudonym, "Stratfordupon-Avon"? I'm liking it, big time.)

Despite his disappointing, uninformed, and apparently undeited remarks, you'll find thoughtful comments by Oxfordians including Ian Haste, William Wray, Roger Stritmatter, Nonie Sharpe, and Hank Whittemore. It's worth reading through to the end to find these gems.

And perhaps some of you will want to join the discussion,
Kathryn

Shakespeare in the Trailer Park

UW Daily reviews local production of "Shrew"...
http://dailyuw.com/2009/7/29/shakespeare-trailer-park-hillbilly-chemistry-makes/

Intiman to perform Othello

This just in from Sam Saunders:

Othello is to be performed July 7 -- August 2 in the Intiman Playhouse. It is part of the arrangement with Bartlett Sher, Seattle's famed (award winning) Artistic Director at Intiman who transported his South Pacific from Seattle to New York (and it was so well received he became half New Yorker and half Seattleite and now he is giving up his job here to take one half in New York and half in Germany) so now is bringing the entire company from New York's Theatre for a New Audience to perform Othello here.

The New York Time's review of the production there said it was the best Shakespearian production there in the last ten years.

If Ruth Ann and I should see you in the courtyard at the fountain before the afternoon performance on July 18th at the Intiman Playhouse, I will get you a cup of coffee and smile.

Sam the Wranglert.

Reading Looney Online

Good news for those who wish to read J. Thomas Looney's "Shakespeare" Identified in Edward de Vere, the Seventeenth Earl of Oxford.

The entire text of the book is online at the link above.
Kathryn