Harvard’s Latest Valentine’s Day Activity: Re-creating Shakespearean Drama

Most choose to spend Feb. 14, also known as SAD (Single Awareness Day) indulging in the traditional rituals of gorging on chocolate and pathetically reflecting on the lack of romance in one’s life. But this year, the Hyperion Shakespeare Company, in collaboration with Eliot House, offered a new way to spare calories and shed tears in their Valentine’s Day inspired First Annual Shakespeare in Love production, an event which, at the very least, sure beat deciphering scenes from “0” with your English 120 TF.

The theme of the show was “Courses of True Love: Comic and Tragedy,” and even Shakespeare novices could appreciate the Elizabethan pickup lines. FM suggests that the next time you’re at the Delphic, try quoting Benedict (Samuel L. Linden ’10) from Much Ado About Nothing to get some action: “The world must be peopled!”

Obviously Harvard students need some help with their game, because every seat in the Eliot Library was filled. Although there were certainly senior thesis writers who worship dear Will, many audience members were just looking for a classier Thursday night than Stein Club (which was appropriately dubbed last Thursday “ValenStein”). One audience member was even overheard saying, “We’re so cultured. Oh my god, we’re showing up at this thing.”

But it wasn’t just the promise of prestige and tasty baked goods that kept the audience in their seats. Many viewers had a personal interest in the show, such as Megan L. Srinivas ’09, who came to support her two blockmates who aided in production.

And if sitting in an austere library listening to centuries-old prose wasn’t an ideal plan for a hot Valentine’s Day, things got surprisingly steamy when Antony reminded Cleopatra, “Last night you did desire it.” Clearly, coupled with desserts and sexual tension, as show producer Tara L. Moross ’09 says, “Shakespeare is a good way to celebrate any day of the year.” But FM thinks it’s especially good on SAD.