This year marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death, and in turn, Grand Canyon University jumped into Shakespeare Week. This is when the campus is flooded with student performances and presentations of some of Shakespeare’s most beloved classics, as well as guest speakers on certain topics.
Grand Canyon University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences welcomed Paul Hartle on February 3rd, to Ethington Theatre. Hartle is a Senior Tutor in St. Catherine’s College at the University of Cambridge. An authority on Shakespeare and performance, Hartle informed the three-hundred something crowd, on a detailed explanation for the imagined landscapes Shakespeare introduced in his first comedy, As You Like It, as well as some other interesting performance structure facts.
We have heard the infamous line from AYLI, “All the world's a stage”, right? So exactly what does that mean? When you enter the Globe Theatre, you find out. Hartle introduced the architecture of the Globe and what each level is interpreted as, through the eyes of Shakespeare. Keep in mind that where the audience sits, represents earth. The rafters and balcony seats represent heaven, which by the painted angels and zodiac signs, is not too difficult to comprehend. Lastly beneath the stage, beyond the trap doors, represent hell. “And aye-remaining lamps, the belching whale and humming water must o'erwhelm thy corpse, lying with simple shells! O Lychorida!” - A line from Pericles.
You may or may not have read Hamlet in grade school. If so, you are aware of the confusion that arises when reading, or watching the play and identifying who the King is. So when conflict occurs in the play with him, you are in a constant shuffle of thoughts. Hartle asserted that identity makes it easier to verbally combat. And if you have ever tried to convey emotion through a text message, I think you can agree.
Fun fact time. It was often difficult to give the impression of darkness or nighttime in the Globe Theatre during the 16th and 17th century. In order to let the audience know when it was supposed to be dark outside, the actors would use torches and candles in their scenes. Essentially, they made the setting brighter in order to represent darkness. Now that’s deep.
To all of my millennials following along, I beseech you to read a Shakespeare play, and explore the imagined landscapes he draws for you with his words. When I approached Mr. Hartle after his presentation, I asked him this: “What is one thing you would say to someone who has never read Shakespeare?” After he gathered his jaw from the floor, he let out the three words I never expected to hear, “See it first”. That’s right all you movie lovers and play enthusiasts. Don’t feel too obligated to read through the language of Shakespeare when you can see it first-hand! Music to my ears: an authority on Shakespeare who does not throw manuscripts in your face! But I digress, and leave you with this, when exploring the world of Shakespeare, I would indeed suggest a hard copy.