We toasted the Scottish bard in January, so we thought we would have our own celebration for our English bard during Shakespeare week. We really did him proud with an impromptu performance of key parts of the Scottish Play. There was much hilarity, especially at our dramatic interpretations of some Macbeth/Lady Macbeth scenes! We aso discussed Shakespeare’s home life with reference to the women who nurtured and shaped him and enjoyed a potted history of the Globe Theatre followed by the details of some food in his plays. Shakespeare in art was an eye-opener, and we looked at many artistic renditions of his characters, of which Ophelia by John Everett Millais (pictured) is one of the most famous. Did you know that Elizabeth Siddall, who posed for this portrait, had to lie in a full bathtub fully clothed and caught a severe cold in the process? Her father sent Millais a letter demanding £50 for medical expenses! We of course rounded off an entertaining evening with tea, cakes, a quiz and a crossword!
