In observance of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, copies of his First Folio will be touring all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico, for the public to see. It seems fitting, considering what D.H. Lawrence wrote about the Bard: “When I read Shakespeare I am struck with wonder that such trivial people should muse and thunder in such lovely language.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Shakespeare’s First Folio”
Shakespeare’s first folio was published in 1623.
It contains 36 plays, and they think that there were probably about 750 of them produced.
And there are about 233 of them still in existence.
And 82 of them have been at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.
But thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, they’re going to be touring the country next year for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
So 80 plus copies of the first folio are traveling.
Well, not all 80.
They have to find some that are travel ready.
And they’re going to go to all 50 states, one place in each state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
And they’re going to be sort of out in the community in a way that they haven’t been.
At that library.
Here in San Diego, they’re going to be at the Old Globe Theater.
They’re going to be at a community college in Hawaii.
Oh, okay.
Because when you said out in the community,
I was thinking they were going to take them to a Padres game,
Go to the beach, go for a hamburger at Hodad’s.
And supposedly they’re going to be open to Hamlet’s soliloquy,
The to be or not to be.
And so that’s pretty exciting that you can go to see one of the original ones.
It made me think of the quote from D.H. Lawrence about Shakespeare.
He wrote,
When I read Shakespeare, I am struck with wonder
That such trivial people should muse in thunder in such lovely language.
Oh, nice.
Isn’t that true?
I mean, you think about it.
Some of those folks are just so…
Yeah, you wouldn’t give them the time of day.
Right, but they talk so beautifully.
So anyway, pretty exciting for Shakespeare buffs.
And it is a great quote because if you knew some of those people in your real life,
You would have ditched them a long time ago.
Right, but you speak so beautifully.
You wouldn’t be trapped on a stage with them trying to get away.
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