Visitors from near and far descend on Orcas every March to share in their love of the Bard.
Now in its third year, the chamber-sponsored Shakespeare Festival is from March 19 to 22.
There will be live performances, vendors, food and entertainment in the Village Green, a parade through Eastsound and lots of costumes.
This year’s festival is directed by Robert Hall with help from a crew of volunteers, actors and artists.
“Shakespeare is always considered one of the greatest authors of all time,” Hall said. “His metaphor and imagery is quite beautiful. People don’t have time anymore to stop and listen, let it wash over you. His writing has stood the test of time. It is performed and studied in every country of the world.”
The event was originally launched to bring more visitors to the island during the off season. Festival creator Michell Marshall says last year lodging and restaurant owners reported an increase in business.
First on the lineup is an “Orcas Tribute to Shakespeare” at Random Howse on Wednesday, March 19 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the chamber, Office Cupboard or online at www.brownpapertickets.com. Participants can purchase wine and food at the venue.
Martin Lund will kick off the evening that includes local musicians presenting period pieces and actors performing works by Shakespeare.
“There will be some beautiful performances as well as some fun stuff,” Hall said.
On Thursday, March 20, Sazio di Notte is hosting a fundraising dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. with the Seattle Shakespeare Company and Dr. Ayanna Thompson, a world-renowned Shakespeare expert and professor at George Washington University.
Dinner is $125 and includes wine. The menu is Ceci con gramberi (warm chick peas with prawns), panzanella (Tuscan grilled bread salad, tagliatelle pastore (Shepherd’s pasta), and polenta al forno (baked polenta with cauliflower and gorgonzola), cinghiale (wild boar), tiramisu. To attend, call the chamber at 376-2273, Sazio at 376-6394 or the Office Cupboard at 376-2378.
The festival is partnering with Orcas Crossroads to bring Thompson to the island. She will present “Othello in the 21st Century: To Perform or Not to Perform?” at 7:30 p.m. at Orcas Center on Friday, March 21.
“Othello is the best-known black character in Shakespeare’s plays, a traditional role of dignity for black actors,” Thompson said. “But racial stereotypes of the 17th century create some discomfort among 21st century audiences.”
The lecture will explore historical and contemporary performances of the play in light of this discomfort. Thompson specializes in Renaissance drama
and her most recent publication “Passing Strange: Shakespeare, Race, and Contemporary America” will be for sale at a book signing following the lecture.
Come with questions for a discussion and reception after the lecture. Tickets are $10 and available at Darvill’s Bookstore, online at www.orcascrossroads.org or at the door. Some complimentary tickets are available in advance at the Orcas Senior Center.
On Friday, March 21, The Seattle Shakespeare Company, which is performing for Orcas High School in the daytime, will present “Romeo and Juliet” at Random Howse at 7:30 p.m. The dinner theatre event will open with period music by Jeffri Cohen. Tickets are $15 at the chamber, Office Cupboard or www.brownpapertickets.com.
“It will be quite romantic,” Hall said.
On the last day of the festival, Saturday, March 22, Eastsound will come alive with the sights and sounds of the Elizabethan period.
A colorful foot parade will gather at Ace Hardware and move along North Beach Road starting at 11 a.m. Hall has arranged for acts from the Bellingham Circus Guild and former Cirque du Soleil performers like stilt walkers and fire breathers as well as local performers to participate. For those who would like to sign up beforehand, contact the chamber office; otherwise, just show up on the day.
From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., there will be food and crafts vendors on the Village Green. Paul Freedman is again playing the Bard.
Entertainment includes Spring Street School students performing “The Tempest,” music from Almost Classical, Orcas High School Strings, Stormy Hildreth and Sasha Hagen, puppetry from Sarah Mikolowsky, games like croquette, shuttle cock and face painting, balloon animals, juggling and more. Chess expert Phil Heikkinen will play all comers simultaneously, with up to 20 boards available at a time. He will give away chess books or magazines to anyone who can win or draw-and if any copies are left, will hand them out at the end of the exhibition. There will also be booths from nonprofits like the Choral Society and the Chamber Music Festival.
The Seattle Shakespeare Company will close the festival with a performance of “Othello” at Orcas Center on Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 at www.orcascenter.org.
