The Name Game
Wednesday, June 25th by scott malia
What’s in a name? I think somebody famous once asked that question. I was watching comedian Dana Carvey’s new comedy special and the former Church Lady happened to riff on that very idea. In his act, he was posing the question in terms of politics, noting how likeable the current Democratic candidate has to be in order for people to get past his name. Though, honestly, perhaps Millard Fillmore faced the same challenges a few hundred years back. Carvey’s jokes pointed to the way names often bring up associations unrelated and unintended. They can also carry with them certain expectations.
When searching the wide, wacky world of Shakespeare news, I am often struck by the number of articles that pop up for people who simply happen to have Shakespeare as a last name. One such item recently popped up regarding an athletics coach who shares Will’s last name. While from the outside it must seem like a lot of fun, I have no doubts that people with the mis-/good fortune to be named Shakespeare must be subject to any endless array of cheap, corny or simply lame attempts at humor.
For someone involved in sports, the puns that commentators and writers must inflict upon this man must be brutal. “He has got to win this game, Ted, or it won’t be all’s well that ends well.” “Bob, Shakespeare’s team has just been amazing, meeting whatever challenge their opponents throw at them and giving it back measure for measure.” “John, we thought Coach Shakespeare was injured, but it turned out to be much ado about nothing.” The current Mr. Shakespeare has my sympathy; to put up with all of that takes one noble kinsman.
