Denise Stout is an enthusiastic Janeite who was lucky enough to be able to visit the exhibition, Will & Jane: Shakespeare, Austen and
the Cult of Celebrity at the Folger Shakespeare Library. She knows I'd have willingly joined her if only I didn't live on the other side of the pond, so she was so kind and generous to write a report for me personally and agreed to post it here at My Jane Austen Book Club. I hope you'll enjoy reading her musings as much as I did and will appreciate the pictures she sent me. Thank you, Denise!
When
I first learned of the Will & Jane exhibit at the Folger, I knew I had to
go. Living so close to Washington, D.C., the opportunity to view the items on
display, especially the undergarment* worn by a favorite Mr. Darcy, Colin Firth,
and known colloquially as The Shirt,
was more than a goal, it became a must-see. As the weeks passed by, it seemed
like the visit wouldn’t happen. My husband surprised me when he announced he
would take off on a Friday to accompany me. He travels the Metro frequently, so
there was little chance of missing the stop or riding the wrong line to the
Capitol area.
We
drove to a suburban Metro station and took a direct line to the Capitol stop.
After emerging from the Capitol station, we were orienting ourselves when a
gentleman asked if he could help us find our way. I mentioned we were going to
the Folger. Serendipitously, he was, too—he worked there! We had a nice guided
walk to the Folger, learning factoids about it, a shortcut, and a few things
about the exhibit. I asked him about taking photos, and he said they were
allowed as long as there was no sign forbidding them. He left us in the hands
of a docent as he went to his office. She led us straight into the exhibit
located in a galley abutting the lobby which, in turn, leads to the Elizabethan
Theater where a production of Sense and Sensibility was the latest performance.
The interior is Tudor in style and befitting the Bard. She left us to our own devices but made sure
to let us know she was available for any questions. Most of the time, we were
the only ones in the exhibit.
The
exhibit compared and contrasted the lives and careers of William Shakespeare
and our beloved Jane Austen. Excited to be there, I paced myself and didn’t run
straight to The Shirt. Patience is
not really part of my persona, but I forced myself. Since we were whisked into
the gallery, I never saw a sign forbidding pictures, and I took a photo of
nearly everything on my camera. No one ever approached me to tell me to not
take photos. The staff member with whom we walked to the Folger is a high
ranking administrator; we may have been given liberties by mistake or chance. I
didn’t know photos were not allowed until the guard mentioned it when we were
viewing the Elizabethan Theater where they are allowed! I had even joked with
him when I took a selfie with The Shirt.
It was too late by then. I had a lot of pictures.
The
exhibit contained many artifacts, relics of their eras, some reproductions, original
books, pop culture items, and even ephemera such as the screenplay from Sense and Sensibility with Emma
Thompson’s notes. It was interesting to learn how the famous portrait of Jane
was altered over the years, how Jane lived in the era of the 200th
anniversary of the Bard’s death, and we’re now in the 400th
anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and approaching the 200th
anniversary of Austen’s death. Rubbings from their tombstones are on display.
They’re both celebrated writers and each has attained a cult-like status in our
lives. Their images have been used in advertising, knick-knacks, and many other
varieties of memorabilia. Plus, movies and books of the original works and the
variations abound as odes to both. A continuous reel playing of the famous
shirt scene in the BBC’s Masterpiece series production of Pride and Prejudice is adjacent to The Shirt. The exhibit shared tidbits of their lives in their time
and now. As an example: it’s now forbidden for people to have their ashes
spread at Jane’s burial site.
It
was a wonderful time spent oohing and aahing over “the divine Jane” and “the
God of our idolatry” (Shakespeare). And, of course, The Shirt. A once in a lifetime pairing of objects, I’m glad I
visited. And for those needing to take home memories, the gift shop was laden
with objects relating to both literary celebrities.
Unfortunately, the exhibit
is only open through November 6, 2016.
Denise Stout
*Here’s a link explaining menswear in the
Regency era for those who are confused about the reference to The Shirt being
an undergarment:
5 comments:
Thank you so much!
Denise
Thanks for your lovely report Denise. Not sure I could have resisted going straight to see the *undergarment*!
Great post. Loved seeing the pictures and learning a little bit more. So glad you got to go and that you shared with us.
I wish this exhibit would run longer. My mom and I were talking about possibly going to DC again this summer.
You are a very dedicated fan of Jane Austen. I am happy for you that you were lucky enough to receive this exciting father. I would love to see this exhibition, especially books and paintings. How many wonderful memories they probably store!
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