Shakespeare and Royal Commonwealth Society of Ottawa
Updated: Dec 20, 2021
April 23rd is celebrated as William Shakespeare's birthday.
RCS Ottawa celebrated early with it's "Shakespeare on the Platform" (SHOP) competition for High School Students. Morgan Sugars-Keen gained top marks, matching her sisters - Abbey in 2018 and before her Neve. Runners-up were Lukas O'Halloran of Lisgar Collegiate Institute closely followed by two students from Woodroffe High School, Mackenzie Cornfoot and Mae Maguire.
Morgan chose a soliloquy from Romeo and Juliet, "Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again." Along with winning $350 for first prize, Morgan's school, Glebe Collegiate Institute, will benefit from the Graham Booth Bursary ($500) and will be displaying the Barbara Young Shield in their Trophy Case.
As is every activity, "SHOP" was affected by the pandemic. Instead of a stage in front of an audience the players performed from home on Zoom to their audience. What would Shakespeare have made of it? "To Zoom or not to Zoom?, "Is this a video I see before me", "Once more unto the camera", just don't have the same ring.
Congratulations to the Organizing Committee, Basil Crozier, Margaret Jones, Barbara MacDonald-Moore, John Wright, and Alexander Moss.