A DuPage County anti-war organization is looking toward a figure from the past in hopes of bolstering their future.
Organizers involved with DuPage Against War Now will host a fundraising event Thursday, July 12, via a preview performance of William Shakespeare’s “Richard III.”
The play, performed as part of the First Folio Shakespeare Festival, officially opens Friday, July 13, and continues through Sunday, Aug. 12.
Kathy Slovick, one of DAWN’s co-founders, said it’s no small irony that the DuPage County performance focuses on a man that time has come to judge as one of England’s most unpopular monarchs.
“Richard III was another disastrous leader from another time. I doubt that they had pollsters at the time, but he surely would have rated very poorly. There are some parallels to be found with that story and with what is happening in our country today,” the Glen Ellyn resident said.
“The Tragedy of King Richard the Third,” William Shakespeare’s 16th-century play (and one of the playwright’s first) about the reign of King Richard III of England, portrays the man as an ambitious and quite murderous ruler who ultimately loses his popularity among his subjects and faces a revolt.
Alison Vesely, First Folio’s artistic director and co-founder (along with her husband, David Rice), said that she also appreciates the correlation between Richard III and what many people — Democrats and Republicans alike — see as changing views regarding President Bush.
“I think it’s real interesting that this play has a war at the end. There’s a connection there (between Shakespeare’s work and world events). I that that (DAWN’s) aims are pure and wonderful in making people more aware of this war that drags on. There are a lot of people who feel the way they do,” Vesely said.
DAWN officials plan to earmark the money raised from next month’s event to help keep the organization running, not only its peace movement but its voter registration efforts as well.
“I think that there are a lot of conservative people in DuPage County who think that this war is a bad idea. We represent them. Our group is made up of liberals and conservatives and libertarians. But we don’t like to talk about politics — we like to focus our efforts on peace,” Slovick said.
Current events aside, Vesely noted that Shakespeare’s words are as influential today as they were centuries ago, and that the Bard’s messages are what keep people interested.
“Shakespeare was the ultimate observer of human behavior, and (human behavior) hasn’t changed that much in 400 years. People still fall in love and they still get angry. People still love language and music. Nations still go to war. The list goes on. Human beings haven’t changed in 400 years. That’s what makes his plays so universal,” Vesely said.
Amy Tauchman is another Glen Ellyn resident who co-founded DAWN with Slovick about five years ago. She said the relationship between her organization and First Folio is a classic “win-win” scenario. The acting troupe gains exposure while the peace organization gains needed funds.
“People get to support a cause and support the people who have been working on this. It’s hard to keep going. People get consumed by other things. This helps keep the focus. Through this, we can bring people together who are interested in stopping the war in Iraq, and we get a great theatrical performance,” she said.
