Picture this: Four people standing side-by-side on a city street, each of them dressed up in a terrible, terrible sci-fi costume. We're talking the type that a slightly mentally-handicapped but energetic 12 year old would create. Each of them holds in their hands a single Shakespearean play; each of them different. One person holds, for example, A Midsummer Night's Dream, another, Macbeth, etc. As one, the four of them open their various plays, and begin to read. Each of them is, in effect, putting on a one-person performance. If there's 21 characters in the play, then the performer in question does 21 different voices. Or types of body language. Or whatever they choose to do to signify different characters. Variety is the spice of good. Now, imagine these four people belting out their lines, getting as MUCH SHAKESPEARE AS POSSIBLE out there AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, with a big sign in front of them, proudly proclaiming their performance to be: "The Sci-Fi Shakespeare Cavalcade", with, in smaller letter below it, "Donations welcome". ...with a big bucket in front of them for cash. What a grand vision.

"To be or not to be..."

 

 

Sadly, it is a vision which has thus far eluded me. Twice, the Cavalcade has nearly come into being, and twice, my brain-child has been still-born. The problem has boiled down, in essence, to one simple issue: People are lazy. My cohorts never made costumes, and they never practiced their plays. Even when I went to City Hall and received a permit to perform the Cavalcade anywhere in Vancouver, they were not motivated to do their parts.

Now, I'm taking a third stab at this. I've found two people who are up for it, and if I can find a fourth, then magic will be in the offing.

Keep an eye on this space. There may be news directly.