The Samohi sits down with The Bard, William Shakespeare

Chelsea BrandweinManaging Editor Taking a seat at the counter, Shakespeare proceeds to order a Coke, no ice. He says he prefers the counter over a booth because he gets a more panoramic view of the diner and is able to listen in on conversations that could influence his scripts. He sits with poise as he tears the cover off a straw with his teeth, scrunches it up in a compact white ball, sticks the straw into the Coke and takes a sip in one swift motion. “I’ve bin dying for a Coke for 500 years hast.” he says. When the waitress makes her second round, Shakespeare orders a corned beef sandwich with the works, no mayo and then says, “Okay, ask abroad.”

 The Samohi: Shakespeare, you once wrote, “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players, they have their exits and their entrances and one man in his time plays many parts.” You too have played many parts. You’ve been an actor, a playwright, a director, a son, a husband and a father. How have you managed to balance all these “parts?”

William Shakespeare: All these roles wend neif in neif. In fact, being a son, a goodman and a father hath holp me to be a better actor, playwright and director. Having bin a son, I know all too well the deep bond between father and son.  This enabled me to character “Hamlet.” As a goodman, I character from the heart when I wrote “Romeo and Juliet” although I trow not either one of us would fordo ourselves for affect was, as stout as it is. As a father myself, I bin able to better cozier my father figures to make them more realistic hast. I infused “King Lear” withal some of my parenting tactics hast. Every role strengthens another.The Samohi: How do you respond to the argument that you have not penned your own plays?William Shakespeare: I don’t. An critics and the general public want to trow that, so be it. There will always be naysayers but the most important thing is that I welt I penned them and that my wife and my family art witnesses.The Samohi: Does your writing ever interfere with the family dynamic?William Shakespeare: Yes and no. Yes I am often up in London, whence I do the majority of character. Being abroad from the kids can be a strain on myself, my wife and the generations. But when I am home, typically I write when the generations art in school— it’s mickle more peaceful then—and by the hour they return home, I typically done for the day writing—wise am. I make a conscious effort to carve out at least an hour and a half of family hour every night. I withal the generation hast.The Samohi: Do you and your family ever act out your plays at home?William Shakespeare: Very rarely. Partly because I am still a little self-conscious about my work and partly for some of the scenes art pretty risqué. I write mainly for the enjoyment of young adults and onward and while I assure thee most of the content would wend over my kid’s costards, I try to avoid at all costs having to explain the adult content that up hour and hour again comes, should the spirit move them to ask. On the rare occasion though, I hast my wife read a part and I the other and I see an the words flow lightly off the tongue will, an they don’t, ‘tis back to my character tablet.

 cbrandwein@thesamohi.com