Sir Patrick Stewart Does the Bard
He is a "geek cultural icon": Captain Picard
and Professor X. We've heard him gamely
voice a ridiculous animated character in
American Dad. There are many sides to
Patrick Stewart, but at his core, Shakespeare
nerds know, he's a Shakespearean. Maybe
you've seen him in 2010's Ceaușescu-
inspired Macbeth or the 2012 BBC
production of Richard II, or as Claudius
in 2009's televised Royal Shakespeare
Company Hamlet, with David Tennant in the
title role?
Only the most enviable nerds, however,
have seen him live on stage with the RSC, in
any number of roles, minor and major, that
he has played since joining the company in
1966. He's as skilled a Shakespearean actor
as Olivier or Gielgud. So, imagine Olivier or
Gielgud reading a Shakespeare sonnet to
you every day, right in the comfort of your
own home. Maybe even better (some might
say), we have the sexy Stewart delivering
the goods to soothe us in our days of
isolation.
After receiving a very enthusiastic response
when he randomly and elegantly recited
Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 to his fans
on social media decided to read one
Shakespeare sonnet aloud each day in
hopes of 'keeping the doctor away.' Think
of it as preventative medicine for the itchy,
cooped-up soul. On his Instagram, Sir
Patrick shows up lounging comfortably in
casual clothes, furthering the illusion that
he's joined us in our living rooms—or we've
joined him in his.
