International Creative

I think I’ll be taking the title ‘International Creative’ as my new job title after reading this 😉

Delighted to get an ‘Alice’ award 🙂

Good to be curious!

Shakespeare in America

There is a thing about Shakespeare in America and it’s a very, very good thing. I think I’m probably at my happiest when my British worlds and my American worlds combine, and that seems to be at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s outdoor performances in Ellicott City. I liked their recent production of As You Like It so much, I wrote this piece.

Before last night’s show I did a talk about ‘Shakespeare in America’ and the differences between British and American approaches to Shakespeare; how it has evolved; and what experiences folks have of it, and excerpts the talk will feature in this marvellous project called Shakespeare on the Road going across America. Chuffed!

Image courtesy of Teresa Castracane photography

4 July comments and parade

I’m not gonna lie, 4 July is kind of odd for us Brits in the USA.

This is what I encountered the day before…

Me (to some parent dude): ‘Happy 4th of July.’
Him: ‘Are you allowed to say that?’
Me: ‘Of course!’
Him: ‘Do you mean it, though?’
Me: ‘Ummmmm….’
Him: ‘Well, sorry about this independence thing, but I see it like we were dating and it didn’t quite work out.’
Me ‘Ha ha, yes.’
Him (awkward now): ‘I mean, not you and me, but, um, America and England…..um, but, um….anyway, have a good one!’

(He hurries off).

Before I marched in this year’s parade (wearing my I HEART the USA top, of course!) I joked with my American chums about how we must have been hungover back then, or sent out our B team, cos otherwise we surely would have won, but it’s all in good spirits, naturally!

BUT – what I didn’t realise is what the Declaration of Independence really says, and how jolly well pissed off the American were at us Brits. I heard it in its full (and very, very long) glory for the first time last night, read by the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company.

Boy, were we Brits a bit mean; and wasn’t King George a bit mad and horrid; and didn’t those Americans get all cross and appear to get their knickers in a right old twist in the middle bit of that declaration.

But jolly good show that we’re all spiffing chums again now!

It was all a bit embarrassing hearing the trouble and strife from back in the day – so much so that I hung my head in shame 😉 . After recording this piece, one cast member called out to me ‘We still love ya, though, Claire!’ 🙂

Another local blogger referenced by presence in the county in his 4th July blog too.

And now, thankfully, back to the normality of 21st century relationships!