Today marks the anniversary of what is agreed to have been, from baptismal records, the birthdate of William Shakespeare, and he died on the same date 402 years ago. A wonderful way of remembering the dates was taught to pensitivity 101 — at least, it works for me.
You need to start by knowing that the birth date was in the 1500s. Then you remember that the normal order of + or – has the + first. So, you add the 1 and the 5 to get 6: so far 156. Now you take the 5 again but minus 1. Voila: 1564. You know he lived more than 36 years, so the next century date must be 1600. Just add another 16 to give ‘1616’ and there it is. For the actual date, you have already used 1 to calculate the year. Continue from that and you get 234. Done! Yes, 23rd of the 4th month is the date! Americans won’t get confused, because 34th February wouldn’t exactly work. So, if you win a million in a quiz contest by knowing these dates, remember to give pensitivity 101 and self a cut!
The Will bit I have always enjoyed most is Much Ado About Nothing. It has a good story, and the character of Beatrice is delightful (especially played by Emma Thompson). I prefer her to the Rosalind of As You Lie Kit.
Midsummer Night’s Dream has also got much to commend it, in my view. It is good fun.
I remember many years ago Youngest Daughter draped in a tree on a very cold night wearing some glued-on flowers in strategic spots and nothing else, for an outdoor performance.
Who can identify the play with these lines? —
Hmm, consulting Mr Google all I can find is this quote from Henry V: “Pish for thee, Iceland Dog! Thou prick-ear’d cur of Iceland…” Which is not your quote at all.
As for Ronel and Flavio, Mr Google prevaricates mightily. However, I know of a contemporary politician or two to whom these words would certainly apply: “the words of fools may lead to undying fame in their folly…”
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, so you have established that it isn’t Shakespeare. Any guesses as to who wrote it?
LikeLike
Webster? Middleton? Marlowe?
LikeLike
(cackle) A contemporary writer, Leslie Hyla Winton Noble, having fun! I was shattered that nobody was lured into my web.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought that was too obvious to state, Leslie! I’m just surprised you didn’t save this bit of fun for the very beginning of April…
😁
LikeLike
Trouble is that Shakespeare wasn’t kind enough to be born on that day.
I am wondering if the lack of response was due to people finding it so obvious that I had written it not even to react; or apathy; or utter bewilderment.
But then, I wonder if anyone got around
To finding the statements to be profound?
LikeLiked by 1 person
The statements offered are so very deep!
Stop digging then, or in the hole you’ll keep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also love “Much Ado About Nothing,” but if forced to find a true favorite, I don’t think I am capable! The math formula made my head spin and I doubt I could ever remember it, but I am quite impressed!
LikeLike
Simplified:
Birth: Start with 15 =15(00)
5+1 = 6 = 6(0)
5 – 1 =4
So, 1564
Death 16(00)
Add another 16
= 1616
Date of both: 234
= 23rd April
Works for me!
I also like Much Ado.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Sweetness and light”? Not for me. I’ll take Macbeth (but my daughter prefers Twelfth Night). I’ve seen both many times, including a Twelfth Night that ranged across the southern tip of Manhattan, with some scenes to and from (and on) Governor’s Island.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We ‘did’ Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for A Level GCE. And I have to agree with you. It had little appeal for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mind you, in my experience anything as a set work for school or a degree was doomed. By being set for compulsory study it lost all appeal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I rather liked Macbeth, but I’ve always been a sucker for a good murder. 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has some good lines but is dreadfully morbid. I enjoy more sweetness and light!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like Hamlet? 😅
LikeLike
That’s even more so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂
LikeLike
I saw a school production of Hamlet around 2000. The kid playing him was gorgeous! Oh to be thirty odd years younger at the time!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wouldn’t it be nice if after a certain age, we could start going backwards? 😅
LikeLike
We just act our shoe size! But yes, it would.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
Getting back into teenage angst, teething, nappies and stomach cramps after feeding would provide some downsides to the age reversal! As well as being squashed to be un-born!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not that far back. Mid thirties would be great and carry on to fifty, then rinse and repeat. 😃
LikeLiked by 1 person