All the Island Was a Stage

— by Cara Russell —

The odor of roasted turkey legs floated up and down the streets of the transformed Eastsound Village. Music filled the Village Green, there was a soliloquy everywhere you turned, muddy-barefooted fairies pattered about, and One Fine Fool taught us all how to “cut and cauterize” while juggling “flaming torches of doom.” Saturday March 22 was the 3rd Annual Shakespeare Festival in Eastsound on Orcas Island, brought by the Chamber of Commerce.

The floor of Enzos Café was littered with rose petals, and was the pre-festival hub for dozens of spectators who packed the little coffee shop patiently waiting in line for something warm to wrap their hands around on a chilly day. The Festival officially began at 11 a.m. when Oberon (Jake Perrine) led a parade of well-costumed performers, on a strange and twisting, yet short, route through town, ending at the Village Green.

There was a performance by Orcas Strings on The Green main stage, where they played music of the period. Players from the Bellingham Circus Guild, and a presentation of The Tempest by Spring Street School students, joined our local actors performing street theater. Everywhere you turned someone was falling in love, or dying a tragic Shakespearean death. “What is Thisbe? A wandering knight?” inquired player Kelly Toombs as he was assigned his female role in the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe, which Audra Goffeney, Andy Martin, Kelly Toombs, and Don Yerly performed throughout the day.

You could play chess with a Shakespearean fellow, get your cute face painted, or play other games of the period, presented by Orcas Parks and Rec Director, Marcia West, dressed as a kindly friar. West was ready to explain the old games of ‘Foot Bag’ (hacky-sack), ‘Lawn Bowling’ (croquet), and ‘Shuttlecock’ (badminton) to those who wished to play.

Local vendors sold brooms and baskets, salves, puppets and much more, while a variety of tasty aromas came from each food vendor’s booth. The Chamber Music Festival ran a ‘fish pond’ for the kids, and the choral society sold baked goods in between putting on multiple performances throughout the day.

Not only was yesterday a celebration of Bill Shakespeare’s complete works, and an effort to help boost our local economy during damp months before the summer tourist season, yesterday was also about the artists, who, fueled by their passion, pour what money they do earn back into their craft. That was a constant throughout the day—artists from all over Western Washington, coming together on our little island to do what they do best, performing for others.

Thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, Robert Hall, and everyone else who put out the huge effort that was the 3rd Annual Shakespeare Festival. We look forward to next year.