Shakespeare’s 444th birthday is fast approaching (try looking for a card for that in Hallmark), and Bard Buffs will doubtless find ways never before imagined to recognize the occasion. NC Wesleyan College might have the creative edge this year because they are holding a “roast” for Shakespeare. Normally, roasting a dead person might seem déclassé, but time heals all, so four centuries has allowed us enough distance to poke fun at Will.

The real question is what kind of roast will it be? Will they roast him as if it were the late 1500’s? “Boy, that Queen Elizabeth! What a taskmaster, huh?” Furthermore, will they roast Will, his plays, or both? I anticipate there will be a lot of Anne Hathaway jokes, particularly at the expense of the second-best bed that he left her in his will (“Who got the best one? Ben Jonson?” Cue laugh track). I can also imagine them taking the air out of several overblown tragic heroes. “Hey, Othello, lighten up. You killed your wife over a handkerchief. You make the guy in Sleeping with the Enemy look normal.” Also, please be prepared for the inevitable slew of “Y’Momma” jokes at Hamlet’s expense. In addition, there will be the inevitable authorship jabs. “Will Shakespeare is here tonight ladies and gentleman. OR IS HE?”
What’s fun about an event like this is that honors Shakespeare by not taking him far so seriously. Despite his reputation worldwide, I like to think he would get a lot of laughs out of a roast at his expense.

Posted Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:07:09 and filed under Authorship Debate, Film, Anne Hathaway, Othello, Hamlet, Movies. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.