Friends, Fellow Port Albernians, Lend Me Your Ears!
What did many people think when Pat Cummings told them that she was going to establish a Dancing School, right here in Port Alberni. I am sure that there were a few skeptics who thought it would never work. People here are not interested in dancing. I am glad that she has persisted, and today, there are hundreds of children who have been influenced by her dream. These are my people. I also think of Martin Luther King. I have a dream. And his dream is being realized today.
I have a dream, and with your help, years from now, people are going to be amazed that we were able to have hundreds of people in this community brushing up their Shakespeare!
I saw the glimmer last month when we started this program at Abbeyfield. The residents were very receptive of the first play, Macbeth. On Wednesday, March 30th, we will be presenting Julius Caesar!! As usual, our story teller will be Gordon Scoffield. Those people who attended Celebrate the Word can tell you that Gordon has this gift of bringing Shakespeare alive.
To complement the story, I will be quoting lines from this famous play, and again, Gordon will be there to explain these lines and connect them to the story!
I could hear some of you saying that you found Shakespeare boring at school. Some may also say that they found it boring! I challenge people who hold both these opinions to just come and lend us your ears. We know that you will be satisfied with the play…I already hear some of the lines. We shall be satisfied...Let us be satisfied!
Not only will we be doing the plays, but we shall dare to share some sonnets of the Bard.
As a preparation for this evening, I shall now share with you some lines that I will be quoting from the play:
(1) Beware the Ides of March.
(2) Why, man he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs, and peep about to find ourselves dishonourable raves.
(3) Let me have men about me who are fat. Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o’nights. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much, such men are dangerous.
(4) Nor heaven nor earth has been at peace tonight. Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,”Help, ho” they murder Caesar.
(5) Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste death but once. Of all the wonders that I have heard, it seems to me so strange that men should fear, seeing death a necessary end, will come when it will come.
(6) Et tu, Brute? Then die Caesar.
(7) Not that I love Caesar less, but I love Rome more.
(8) Friends, Romans, Countrymen. Lend me your ears.
(9) There is a tide in the affairs of men.
(10) This was the noblest Roman of them all. His life was gentle and all the elements mixed in him, that Nature might stand up and say to the entire world. This was a man.
I thank you all for coming to Abbeyfield on Wednesday March 30th at 6 p.m.
How about The Taming of the Shrew next? Do let us have suggestions from you.