Shakespeare Visits Muskego and Leaves Them Laughing

Ron Fry has played William Shakespeare to audiences across the country, and this summer in Italy, for the past 20 years to reintroduce the famed playwright on a more approachable level. Wednesday night he added a Muskego to his many stops, appearing at the Library for a presentation of "To Be."

Sprinkled with some classic soliloquy's like Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be...," Fry also explains much of the history surrounding the plays, how productions were presented, and includes the audience in some role playing.

Aye, there's the rub. (Which means there's a change in the direction of thinking.)

An insult contest using Shakespearean terms, using a Southern drawl to read lines, and an open forum to field questions on Shakespeare are all devices used to loosen up what many perceive as highbrow theatre. Results are more laughter, and that's the point.

"I find people think Shakespeare is perhaps more boring than scary, and when we can come together in a common interest, people's perceptions change," Fry said.

He said over his 20 years of presenting William Shakespeare he's reached about 70,000 people from Los Angeles to the east coast. Fry is also a director and performer with the Optimist Theatre in Milwaukee, which presents free Shakespeare in the Park every summer. This year's performance will be "As You Like It," performed over the weekends of July 12 and 19.