Вечер памяти Уильяма Шекспира

Compere: Good afternoon dear friends and guests! Today is a remarkable day. Today is the birthday of William Shakespeare.

Student 1: William Shakespeare was born right in the heart of England in Stratford-on-Avon. Across the fields, about a mile from Stratford, Anne Hathaway's Cottage stands today, as it was in Shakespeare's time. Anne was the woman that Shakespeare married . In Stratford there is the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, and a very old hotel with no number on the doors of the rooms. Instead every room has the name of a Shakespeare play on it: the Mackbeth room, the Othello room, and so on. Shakespeare's birthplace is a small house with small rooms and a beautiful garden behind the house with flowers, trees and plants, that are often mentioned in Shakespeare's plays. In Shakespeare's time the small town had about 1,400 inhabitants living in small houses with thatched roofs.

On market days this quiet town became quite busy. Farmers came from all the country round to buy or sell pigs, cows and sheep. There, on market days, John Shakespeare, will's father, sold his fine white gloves, beautifully sewn by himself and sometimes even perfumed. John wanted to become rich and prepare a comfortable home for his future wife.

In 1557, Mary Arden, the daughter of a rich man living in Strafford, married John Shakespeare bringing him money and land.

Student II: William was their third child, born on the 23rd of April, 1564. Mary, Will's mother, had a very busy life. She would make ale in her brew-house, make butter and cheese, store fruit from the orchard and take care of the poultry and bees.

Her husband John was elected Mayor. When he had to preside over meetings in the Townhall he was dressed in scarlet robe and a man escorted him bearing two-handed swords of State.

Certainly, little Will was very proud of his father and he must have remembered, all his life, these ceremonies as well as the wonderful nature surrounding Stratford-on-Avon. During the whole of his busy life in London, he looked back on the beautiful country always hoping to live and die there.

Student III: Will was sent early to the free Grammar School of Stratford- on-Avon. There from the «horn-book» little boys were taught their alphabet, how to read and write and sing. At the age of seven they were able to read aloud. For endless hours Latin grammar was taught, no geography, no science, no history... Almost the only reading in English was from the Bible. Willy had to be at school from six o'clock till eleven. Then was a two-hour break for the noon meal and again Will returned to school from one o'clock till five.

Student IV: Will did not learn very much at the Grammer School - chiefly because he had to leave school at the early age of thirteen. We can not be certain where he lived and what he did between his thirteenth and nineteenth years. The father could not insist on «all work and no play» for Will. Very often companies of strolling players visited Stratford and Will was probably taken by his father to see the plays and made contact with actors, so he gained some knowledge of actors and the stage.

At the very early age of 18, with no career before him, he married Anne Hathaway^ the daughter of a farmer living near Stratford.

His marriage with Anne Hathaway was a mistake from the very beginning - he a lad of eighteen and she a woman of twenty-six.

Their first child Susanna was born in 1583, and the twins, Hamnet and Judith, in 1585.

And so Will was a father of three children before he was twenty- one. He had no employment and one day he decided to seek his fortune in the capital. Perhaps it was his dream to live as a poet...

Student V: On a fine spring day a young man was riding on horseback toward London. His clothes were modest, his horse was hired. It was Will Shakespeare. It was hard to believe - that a few hours ago he had kissed his three-year-old Susanna, and his twin babies. Already everything in the little town of Stratford-on-Avon seemed very far away. In the afternoon of the third day Will neared London. Next day getting up early he said to himself that he would not look for an employment - that very day. He would only see the wonders of London.

He went out early to visit St.PauPs Cathedral. For a penny he climbed St Paul's foof. Beneath him was the river Thames.. Shining with boats earring passangers. Sometimes all traffic stopped and a crowd of people gathered to watch the Queen. Who was passing in her royal barge, gay with banners, followed by barges, from which music was heard.

Dance ( Vivaldi's Concerto )

Student VI:        Will climber down ,and found his way back^ thinking

about all his present hopes : about his visit to the Theatre, where Richard Burbage played, and to the Curtain. Who played there he did not know. Ten years ago James Burbage , Richard's father, who was an actor and theatre-owner had built the first theatre in England. It was round and open to the sky. A flag announced that-there would be a play that very day. When the Great Plague raged over London, and day by day the number of deaths mounted, the playhouses had to be closed. Will spent his time writing songs and poems. A poet in those days needed a parton to help him. Will Shakespeare dicided to write a poem and dedicate it to the Earl of Southampton, a very rich and talented young man.

Student VII:

O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem.

By that sweet ornament which truth doth give!

The rose looks fair, but fairer it we deem

For that sweet odour which doth in it live.

The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye

As the perfumed tincture of the roses,

Hang on such thorns, and play as wantonly

When summer's breath their masked buds discloses;

But for their virtue only is their show,

They live unwood, and unrespected fade;

Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;

Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made.

And so of you, beautious and lovely youth,

When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth.

Прекрасное прекрасней во сто крат, Увенчанная правдой драгоценной. Мы в нежных розах ценим аромат, В их пурпуре живущий сокровенно. Пусть у цветов, где свил гнездо порок,

И стебель, и щипы, и листья те же, И так же пурпур лепестков глубок, И тот же венчик, что у розы свежей,-

Они цветут, не радуя сердец, и вянут,

Отравляя нам дыханье.

А у душистых роз иной конец:

Их душу перельют в благоуханье.

Когда погаснет блеск очей твоих,

Вся прелесть правды перельется в стих.

This sonnet was translated by the Russian poet Samuel Marshak.

Student IX: The Earl of Southampton was delighted to become Will's patron, and invited Shakespeare to come to live with him in the world of wealth and splendour among adventurous young men as light hearted as himself So Will became a part of the Earl's household. On the evenings during Christmas the Earl of Southampton's men went to play for the Queen. They were the best players in town, so they were commanded to have a new play ready something amusing and light. Will went home thinking about the new play. It was to be called «А Midsummer Nights Dream». The whole company was delighted with this comedy. The Queen was delighted too.

Student X: At that time Willam had in mind the building of a quiet different sort of a playhouse with a roof and lit by candle light: «In such a theatre we could play in rain and snow, at night as in daytime», he thought. Soon this dream took rapid shape:

Here is the plan of the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare wrote most of his plays for this theatre. Here you see a house where the actors dressed and kept the things> which they used in the performance. In front of the house you see a platform. This platform together with the balcony above it was the stage on which the actors played. The actors came out of the house to the stage through two large doors. In front of the stage is a large yard, Round the yard you see three balconies, one above the other. The yard and the greater part of the stage are open to the sky. People who could not pay for better places stood in the yard or sat down on the ground. Rich men sat on the balconies, and aristocrats were allowed to sit on the stage.

The new playhouse was called «The Globe». For their emblem the actors choose Hercules carrying the world on his shoulder.

Student XI: In the new century Shakespeare wrote no more comedies. When he was about forty he produced the greatest of his tragedies - Hamlet, Othello, Mackbeth and King Lear.

When Will came to London he had a perfect knowledge of nature, since that time he added to it the knowledge of men. Many of his plays do not deal with English life, but with places far away from his native land. He is great in every kind of play. His comedies amke people laugh, his tragedies produce tears.

Once a year Shakespeare returned home. It was not London, but Stratford that he really loved. London would never be home to Will. But this town was a necessity to him. Some day he would go back to Stratford to live with his family,

There was a house in Stratford that Will had his eye on. It was the biggest house in the town. As a boy he had never been inside, but it was said to have ten fireplaces... As soon as Will had enough money he bought this house. It was called New Place.

John Shakespeare was proud of his son now. Once it had been a bitter disappointment to the father that eldest son had become an actor.

But now Will was Master Shakespeare, ossessor of a coat of arms, one of the most important citezens of Stratford.

In 1596 when Will was on tour with his company his only son died.

His name was Hamnet that was synonimous to Hamlet. Four years later when writing his trategy «Hamlet, Prince of Denmark» William would write thinking bitterly about his only son's death:

Student XII:

To be, or not to be: that is the question.

Whether this nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end -them? -

To die; -

 To sleep;-

 No more; and by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd.

To die, to sleep;-

 To sleep!

Per chance to dream: ay, there's the rub,

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,

 Student XIII:

Быть иль не быть , вот в чем вопрос. "

Достойно ль

Смиряться под ударами судьбы,

Иль надо оказать сопротивленье

 И в смертной схватке с целым морем бед

Покончить с ними?

Умереть.

 Забыться

И знать, что этим открываешь цепь

Сердечных мук и тысячи лишений,

Присущих телу.

Это ли не цель

Желанная?

Скончаться.

Сном забыться.

Уснуть и видеть сны?

Вот и ответ.

Какие сны в том смертном сне приснятся,

Когда покров земного чувства снят?

Вот в чем разгадка.

Вот что удлиняет

Несчастьям нашим жизнь на столько лет

(Б. Пастернак)

Student ХШ: One day in 1611 Will was riding toward Stratford for the last time. He had won honour, love and many friends. Now he was going to live at New Place, the house of his dreams... He was nearini the Avon River, where now the weeping willows dipped their branches in its water... His thoughts were with his wife, the woman who had been waiting for him long long years...

Student XIV: Sonnet XC

Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever now;

Now, when the world is bent my deeds to cross,

Join with the spite of fortune, make me bow,

And do not drop in for an after loss:

Ah, do not, when my heart hath ' scaed this sorrow,

Come in the nearward of conquer'd wee,

Give not a windy night a rainy morrow,

To linger out a purposed overthrow.

If thou wilt leave me, do not leave me last,

When other petty griefs have done their spite,

But in the onset come; so shall I taste

At first the very worst of fortune's might,

And other strains of woer which now seem woe,

Compared with loss of thee will not seem so.

Сонет XC

Уж если ты разлюбишь,, - так теперь, Теперь, когда весь мир со мной в раздоре. Будь самой горькой из моих потерь, Но только не последней каплей горя 1 И если скорбь дано мне превозмочь. Не наноси удара из засады. Пусть бурная не разрешится ночь Дождливым утром - утром без отрады. Оставь меня, но не в последний миг, Когда от мелких бед я ослабею. Оставь сейчас, чтоб сразу я постиг, Что это горе всех невзгод больнее, Что нет невзгод, а есть одна беда - Твоей любви лишиться навсегда.

Translated by Samuel Marshak

Compere: In April, the month he loved the best, Shakespeare fell ill: Perhaps he had caught a cold, as April nights by Avon were cool. He died on &e 23r4 of April, 1616.

Shakespeare is buried in a beautiful chirch near the Avon. A marble monument on the wall above the grave bears words comparing Shakespeare with poets of the ancient world

On the stone of Shakespeare's grave are the lines, «Blest be the man - that spares these stones And curst be he - that moves my bones».