.png)
Meagan Floyd
Class of 2013
One of my favorite days during our trip to Oxford, England, was our visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. We prepared for the visit by reading Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors and attended a seminar with one of St. Clare's professors.
Shakespeare's birthplace and church were both crowded on that rainy afternoon. People from all over the globe had come to see this small town, which begs the question - what is about Shakespeare so many find appealing?
I am in no way a Shakespeare expert, but I think it is because his work is timeless. I realize this is a generic statement, but it hit home while watching a Shakespearean play that evening. The Comedy of Errors tells the tale of two sets of twins, one set wealthy and the other set, servants. A set of twists and turns separates the pairs until they unknowingly end up confusing an entire city, a wife, and a mistress. The play is set in Ephesus and I predicted the play would be set during Shakespeare's time. Instead, the company set the play in a modern Ephesus, complete with a gaudy gold chain (a staple of the plot), bright outfits, and big hair. The words were Shakespeare's, but the setting was completely modern, and still incredible. The dilemmas - lovers' spats, lasting friendships, and unrequited love - are things relatable in any setting and circumstance.
A flyer advertised the next play - Julius Caesar - set in modern-day Africa. Few works from the 16th century could so easily change settings and centuries and still please a world-wide audience.