Shakespeare’s First Folio

Our Rating: A

William Shakespeare’s collective works were consolidated in a book called Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, which is known today as Shakespeare’s First Folio. The Folio was published posthumously in 1623 by two of Shakespeare’s close friends, John Heminge and Henry Condell.

In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. is touring the United States with the Folio. For the month of February, the Folio was displayed at the Florida International University’s (FIU) Frost Museum. Closing ceremonies were held on Feb. 27, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the event was an elegant affair.

Behind the entrance doors of the Frost Museum, the volunteers manning the desk directed attendees to the reception held on the outside patio. The reception offered complimentary drinks: white wine for the adults and pink grapefruit Perrier for children, as well as a miscellany of hors d’oeuvres.

Tours of the exhibit, led by the curator of the event, Mr. James Sutton, began at 5:15. Sutton described the tensions and outlooks of the atmosphere of Britain in 1623 and how unusual it was that Shakespeare’s works were published. Unlike those of the Roman Empire, London’s political leaders did not view plays and performances as ways to control people, but as influences for chaos. Most printed works were of educational or religious value, and having literary works published purely for entertainment was a newfangled phenomenon.

After the exhibit tours, volunteers directed people to the presentation room, where a group of singers and actors performed either Shakespeare’s or Shakespeare-related pieces.

Two of the performers sang a comical adaptation of  “A Lover and His Lass” from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”.

As You Like It – A Lover and His Lasse.wav

“It was an amazing experience seeing something so prized by so many people and the amazing exhibit that went with it!” sophomore Camila Blanco said.

Though the Folio has already migrated to its next location, be sure to explore the First Folio site and check out the tour schedule–your travels may coincide.