Chrissy Ohlinger / Special to the PVT Billie Polkosnick explains the items, from her own personal Shakespeare collection, appearing in a display case at the Pahrump Community Library. The Library is offering "Shakespeare Made Simple" classes open to the public. The first class is 5-7 p.m., April 8. Advertisement

For those who have always felt excluded from Shakespearian intellect or shows of theatrical Shakespearian wit, there is an opportunity for redemption.

April is National Poetry Month, and the Pahrump Community Library is sponsoring a group dedicated to learning about the ultimate historical poet, William Shakespeare.

"Shakespeare Made Simple," will meet Tuesdays at the library, from 5 to 7 p.m., starting April 8. It is free, with no requirements or prior knowledge needed.

The group is not formed for those who go around spouting Shakespeare quotes all day, it is for those who feign understanding of the quotes being spouted.

All levels of knowledge are invited and activities are designed to make Shakespearian plays palatable to anyone.

The group is an off-shoot of the Tumbleweed Tales Society. Judy Brooks-Strickland got the idea when her husband, George "Cornbread Amos" Strickland, wanted to understand Shakespearian English better.

The couple signed up at a community college class in Pahrump, there were a total of six students in the class. The class dwindled to three, and the remaining students went to the Shakespearian festival in St. George, Utah.

After enjoying the festival, the idea was born to read Shakespeare and invite the larger community to get involved. Eventually, Vivian Owen at the Pahrump Community Library did become involved and helped to provide the platform for the group, much like the Tumbleweed Tales Society which also meets at the library.

Brooks-Strickland describes herself as a moderator. She organizes most of the activity and draws on her resource background in New York. She is an expert in developing cultural opportunities in communities.

Billie Polkosnick worked for 40 years as a high school English teacher and has done post graduate work studying Old English. She is a self-proclaimed "Shakespearian freak." She even has a watch with an image of Shakespeare on the face. Most of the Shakespearian display in the library, organized by Joanne Swartz, comes from Polkosnick's private collection, and she was naturally attracted to involvement in the organization of the local Shakespearian group in Pahrump.

Paul Di Lella, the drama coach from Pahrump Valley High School has also been recruited to help.

The first meeting of the group will cover basic historical concepts of the era and define some of the cultural influences of that time. It is important to understand the societal issues of the era to understand the poetry and theater of the day.

The group will cover topics like the culture of Elizabethan England and its theatrical norms, such as how women were not allowed to act, only men. The poetical parameter of the plays will also be explored.

The archaic language itself is one of the most daunting aspects of Shakespeare. The group hopes to help people have a better understanding of Shakespearian English, which is defined as early modern and does not resemble today's modern language in many ways.

The group will begin with "The Taming of the Shrew" and will try to work through at least the first two of three plays offered at the St. George, Utah, Shakespeare festival this summer.

"Othello" will be next, followed by "Two Gentlemen of Verona" if time allows and there is enough community interest.

The group is designed to promote a "reader's theater" in which participants are encouraged to prepare their part. It will be a dramatic reading group, where no one will be forced into activities where they feel uncomfortable and participation will be nurtured rather than expected.

One act of a play per two-hour meeting is a good time estimation. Ideally, each play will be finished in five weeks, considering all of Shakespeare's plays are five acts long. But Strickland-Brooks and Polkosnick want to stress the point of the gatherings is to enjoy the literature, explore the culture and to play. The group may not adhere to strict time-lines.

Shakespeare's plays were, after all, a pastime of the common people of the day. The plays were intended to be fun and spectators often brought tomatoes and trash to throw at actors they did not like, or booed and hissed at them.

Tomatoes are better left at home, but booing and hissing may be permissible.

Brooks-Strickland and Polkosnick said the ultimate goal is to help others enjoy the experience they have found so rewarding; enjoying Shakespeare.

No materials are required and Xeroxed copies of the plays will be available at the library.

Anyone interested can sign up at the library reference desk, contact Vivian at 727-5930 or e-mail to ezshakespeare@yahoo.com.