Shakespeare sonnet lovers sought
The Shakespeare Sonnet-thon is an evening of laughter, tears, trepidation, and joy. For four hours, dozens of volunteers – ranging from children to octogenarians – recite or sing the 154 sonnets written by William Shakespeare.
Published as a collection in 1609, the sonnets are rich in drama and relevance. The so-called Jewish mother sonnet (#71) opens: “No longer mourn for me when I am dead.” One year a young actor in pajamas took on sonnet #27 that begins “Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,’’ before he lay down on the stage with his teddy bear.
Linda Lowy, director of Shakespeare Now! Theater Company, which brings live Shakespeare performances to schools, founded the sonnet-thon. She was inspired by a sonnet class taught by Jonathan Epstein, a member of Shakespeare and Company in Lenox. Now the sonnet-thon’s master of ceremonies, he riffs on the Bard’s life and offers a dramatic reading of a sonnet or two himself.
The fifth annual Sonnet-thon starts at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, at the Boston Public Library.
If you're interested in participating, e-mail Lowy at info@shakespearenow.org or call Shakespeare Now! at 781-326-3643.
