CMP Review 2024-07-18

July 18, 202

“And Shakespeare?” writes Charlotte Mason. “He, indeed, is not to be classed, and timed, and treated as one amongst others,—he, who might well be the daily bread of the intellectual life.” And she means the intellectual life of *all* persons — whether a child of ten or a man of fifty.

And so, she muses, “How would it be to have a monthly reading of Shakespeare—a play, to be read in character, and continued for two or three evenings until it is finished? The Shakespeare evening would come to be looked on as a family festa.”

For years we have had our own little “family festa” of Shakespeare. Only one evening per week instead of the suggested two or three, but enough for us to make steady progress through the repertoire of the Bard.

Our family festa took on new proportions, however, at the Living Education Retreat last weekend. At the traditional Saturday night “performance” I was joined on stage not only by fellow retreat attendees but also by my firstborn son, my daughter, and the newest addition to my family, my son-in-law.

We are all at different stages of life and we each take our select portions from the feast before us. But there was something for everyone, and I know my cup was overflowing with joy.

@artmiddlekauff

📷 @dave_stillwell