Thou canst speaketh as a British Bard. April 23 is Talk Like Shakespeare Day!
This year is special, as it’s the 400th anniversary of the Elizabethan bard’s death. If you don’t know how to talk like Shakespeare, Buzzfeed released a Shakespearean insult generator in 2014 that is easy to use, or you can create your own sentences using the guide from the website Tips to Talk Like Shakespeare.
Learning to talk like Shakespeare might help you in your love life, too. Employees with Match.com dating site did research and found that just mentioning the playwright’s name in your profile increases a man’s chance of getting a response from a female by 27 percent.
Cities with people whose profiles mention Shakespeare at the highest rate include: Kalamazoo, Michigan; Boise, Idaho; Montgomery, Alabama; and Washington, D.C.
But the bard’s language is crossing barriers and his popularity is only expected to grow – even 400 years after his death. In Britain his life is celebrated with parades, church services and — of course — stage performances. The play’s the thing, after all.
Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616, his 52nd birthday.
President Barack Obama is visiting Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London on Saturday, and the Royal Shakespeare Company is mounting a stage extravaganza with performances by Judi Dench, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian McKellen — and even Prince Charles.
Around the world, the Bard is more popular than ever. Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, says the playwright’s popularity is only likely to grow.
He says “we haven’t scratched the surface of how far and how deep he can speak to different communities.”
Des Moines
The Salisbury House and Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa offers “Shakespeare in the Park” each summer. In honor of his death’s anniversary, the Gardens is offering $5 admission to the plays this June.
Chicago
Chicago is hosting a yearlong festival that includes 850 events put on by more than 60 cultural institutions, including museums, parks and schools. The “Shakespeare 400 Chicago” events are curated by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Events throughout the year include Shakespeare-themed menus from Chicago chefs. Shakespeare’s works will be set to music, done a cappella and with mariachi music. Public school students will compete in a Shakespeare slam called “Battle of the Bard” and two Chicago brothers and rappers will perform a hip-hop version of Shakespeare called “Othello: The Remix.”
Boston
The Boston Public Library is marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death by showcasing rare editions of his works from the library’s expansive collection.
The library will begin displaying early editions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” ”Hamlet” and “The Merchant of Venice” later this year. It will also display four folios of Shakespeare’s collected works, including a copy of the First Folio, published in 1623 and considered to be an important source text for dozens of his plays.
The free exhibit will run from October 13 to March 31, 2017. The Boston Public Library says it holds one of the largest collections of Shakespeare for a public institution.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
