Shakespeare for seniors

Shakespeare for seniors!

By Jon Alden

EverythingWestport.com

May 2, 2008

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Westport seniors turned out to celebrate Shakespeare’s greatest hits in a noon-time performance by Richard Clark at the Westport Senior Center. His was a performance that was sorely missed by those not in attendance.

For a number of years, Mr. Clark has focused on presenting a series of one-person shows for community audiences throughout New England. On this visit he shared the heart, mind and soul of William Shakespeare, arguably “the most profound moral philosopher and greatest dramatist of his time, and possible ever,” said Mr. Clark. “I believe the most elementary truths came from the pen of Shakespeare,” he said.

Mr. Clarke shares his scholarly interest in William Shakespeare with such greats as Joseph Quincy Adams and T. S. Eliot. He takes it a step further. Mr. Clark is an accomplished theatrical actor, philosopher, and poignant Shakespearean interpreter. At the Senior Center he performed vignettes of Shakespeare’s greatest writings, introducing his audience to the most evil moment in Shakespearean literature when a deranged King Lear engaged in a demonic condemnation of his beloved daughter Cordelia when she refuses to make a public declaration of love for her father after learning of her inheritance. Mr. Clark is an eloquent, well spoken Shakespearean actor who graciously exposed his audience to the comedy and tragedy of the English playwright, quoting long passages without missing a beat.

We experienced the obsessive passions of Anthony and Cleopatra; the demented musings of King Richard as he broods over the love he will never have, and the folly of immature love in Romeo and Juliet. “Dogs bark at me as I walk past them,” recited Mr. Clark referencing the deformed disaster named Richard of Gloucester (King Richard III). ”He seeks revenge on all of life,” Mr. Clark said. Mr. Clark also gave a great performance of Hamlet’s suicide speech.

We didn’t miss the essence of the world’s greatest wordsmith.

Shakespeare wrote 150 sonnets. Mr. Clark recited #44:

If the dull substance of my flesh were thought,

Injurious distance should not stop my way;

For then despite of space I would be brought,

From limits far remote where thou dost stay.

“The truth of love is in what we do,” said Mr. Clark. “Love has to be born out to the edge of doom,” he said. “Once love is given, it can never be broken.” Pretty heavy philosophy for a group of Westport seniors!

Shakespeare promoted that “we will be tempest driven until we draw our last breath.” Shakespeare also lamented that all his glory was inside himself, and not displayed outside around him,” Mr. Clarke said.

“If you leave a play that doesn’t touch the most inner part of your soul,” Mr. Clark said, “then you have wasted the price of a ticket.” Movies and television are great entertainment, but theater should move you; leave you forever changed. “See a performance of King Lear. It is great Shakespeare, great tragedy, and honeyed hypocrisy that will shake you to your core,” said Mr. Clarke after reciting a portion of King Lear’s ranting to Cordelia.

Mr. Clark suggested that seeing the film ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by Kenneth Branagh is a great introduction to Shakespeare. “The literal dialogue makes the play accessible to everyone,” he said.

Visit Richard Clark’s web site.

Grace G. Newcomer of Westport (center) listens intently to the performance of Richard Clark.

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