Ghosts of the Citadel
A busy couple of weeks for me at this, one of my favorite times of the year. I was lucky enough to attend a ghostly evening at The Citadel, Charleston’s famed military academy. It was hosted by Professor Roy Freedman, dressed in Scottish garb (complete with kilt and sporran) on loan from Hokus Pokus, the local fancy dress shop. The event took place in the Daniel Library Courtyard, its pathway lined with paper lanterns.
As Tour Charleston founder Ed Macy regaled us with tales of hideous death, groans of Grunts echoed from the parade ground. Unfortunately Ed seemed more interested in telling the audience about his books and TV appearances than discussing the local walking dead.
He was followed up by the Weird Sisters from Macbeth, played by Boo Shephard, Christie Rhodes and Heather Gadol. They did a great job, performing all the main witch scenes from Macbeth and bringing them to life, using the sparse set (a tree and a cauldron) to the best possible effect. I’d helped them to put the scenes together into a coherent whole, and I admired the way they made the whole thing looked so slick after a very short rehearsal period.
The Scottish Play has a place close to my heart because of its historical background as well as its cool story and warped characters. Shakespeare wrote the play (about a plot on a king’s life) in 1605 for his patron King James, who’d just seen an attempt on his ownlife foiled. This "Gunpowder Plot" is commemorated every year in Britain, where we celebrate the time when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Or maybe we celebrate him being stopped. Nobody knows for sure. But we dress up a dummy (a Guy) and chuck it on a bonfire, cheering as it burns to a crisp, and we let off fireworks. It’s our what-may-have-been Fourth of July celebration, and takes place on the Fifth of November. There's nothing better than huddling round a warm fire on a bitterly cold winter night.
Hopefully next year, I’ll be able to celebrate Bonfire Night right here (without the cold part) and burn some dummy to a frazzle.
As Tour Charleston founder Ed Macy regaled us with tales of hideous death, groans of Grunts echoed from the parade ground. Unfortunately Ed seemed more interested in telling the audience about his books and TV appearances than discussing the local walking dead.
He was followed up by the Weird Sisters from Macbeth, played by Boo Shephard, Christie Rhodes and Heather Gadol. They did a great job, performing all the main witch scenes from Macbeth and bringing them to life, using the sparse set (a tree and a cauldron) to the best possible effect. I’d helped them to put the scenes together into a coherent whole, and I admired the way they made the whole thing looked so slick after a very short rehearsal period.
The Scottish Play has a place close to my heart because of its historical background as well as its cool story and warped characters. Shakespeare wrote the play (about a plot on a king’s life) in 1605 for his patron King James, who’d just seen an attempt on his ownlife foiled. This "Gunpowder Plot" is commemorated every year in Britain, where we celebrate the time when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Or maybe we celebrate him being stopped. Nobody knows for sure. But we dress up a dummy (a Guy) and chuck it on a bonfire, cheering as it burns to a crisp, and we let off fireworks. It’s our what-may-have-been Fourth of July celebration, and takes place on the Fifth of November. There's nothing better than huddling round a warm fire on a bitterly cold winter night.
Hopefully next year, I’ll be able to celebrate Bonfire Night right here (without the cold part) and burn some dummy to a frazzle.
posted by Nick Smith @ 2:35 PM
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