Chuck’s impersonation of Will Shakespeare evolved over the years. It began as a straight-forward introduction to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) Plays. His audience was picnickers on the lawn before the theatre (The Green Show).
It was novel for people to have Will explain his play, and people immediately took the opportunity to ask questions. These question and answer interactions were exciting. Chuck said he didn’t set out to become an expert but the many varied and interesting questions invited him into Will’s worlds: London, Stratford-on-Avon, and touring (mostly during Plague years when the Theatres were closed).
“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
— William Shakespeare
One day it occurred to Chuck that half of Will’s writing life was spent working for King James VI&I. We are much more familiar with the idea that Queen Elizabeth sponsored, attended, and censored the theatre of that era. As Chuck began to study King James he learned about a man who encouraged theatrical experimentation. Will’s company became The King’s Men.
James sponsored the research and publication of the King James Bible. Why? Because his time, like today, was divided between religious and political groups, each claiming to have the truth. Different groups used different bible translations to prove their points.
James gathered together a group of educated men from each group for the task of accurate translation. His goal was that each group would accept the new bible and at least be referring to one text as the “truth.” That bible is the King James Bible. Most of the dissenting groups each continued to use their own translation.
James finally sent the dissenting Puritans to New England and Canada, and we inherit many of these arguments today. Jamestown, VA, is named for the king.
Chuck Wilcox as William Shakespeare
Chuck taught theatre and Shakespeare at St. Mary’s Academy for eleven years, retired from teaching but not from performing Shakespeare. His final seasons were with the Denver Botanic Gardens where people being guided to see Shakespeare’s Plants met him as Shakespeare at the end of the tour. After Covid he no longer performed.
Chuck was a co-founder of the Colorado Shakespeare Gardens at the University of Colorado. The majority of the many plants in Shakespeare’s plays are on display. The website has a link to Chuck as Shakespeare narrating a history of each garden and many plant descriptions.