Shakespeare Club Lives Up to Its Name

Pasadena’s Shakespeare Club is importing Hollywood timber in the form of actor Anthony Montgomery as it continues a reading cycle of works by its namesake for the first time in nearly 80 years.
That’s right. For 80 years, the 131-year old Shakespeare Club has performed no Shakespeare. There’s a story in there somewhere, but for now the focus will be on the staged reading of Othello, planned for Feb. 21.
The club has an imported artist-in-residence in London-born director and producer Richard Kenyon, whose idea it was to get the Shakespeare Club to do a little Shakespeare.
His film directing credits include “A Girl’s Guide to Drowning,” “Insomniac,” and “Ice Cream.”
“Othello,” does not represent the opening, baptismal plunge into The Bard’s body of work. “Macbeth” was given a reading on Jan. 24.
By “reading” we mean a semi-staged production of the play, where the actors stand and recite their lines, usually without costumes and complementary body language.
In this instance, club members will cluster around the star, Montgomery, interpreting roles other than that of the brooding, tortured protagonist.
For his part, Montgomery boasts an ample resume wherein his turns as Ensign Travis Mayweather on UPN’s “Star Trek,” and Andre Maddox on ABC’s “General Hospital” have earned him the most renown.
March 14, the play’s the thing yet again with “Romeo and Juliet,” followed April 11 by “Richard III.”
The Shakespeare Club is located at 171 South Grand Avenue, Pasadena. The event is free and followed by tea and conversation.
For more information, please call (626) 793-5714 or email shakespeareclub423@gmail.com