Photo courtesy of Leah Lubman
Portland-based band Shakespeare Metal Company, comprised of Lord Simms, Viceroy Matthew, Sir Meriwether and William Sly, performed at Stillwater on Friday, Nov. 21.

Ashland is a seat of power for the modern Shakespearean crowd.

Death, murder and suicide are central themes to a majority of the Bard’s works, so it should not come as a surprise that a group of heavy metal-loving musicians would find it intriguing and satisfying to mix the old plays of doom with the modern riffs of demise.

Last Friday, a thick crowd gathered in Stillwater, the new Ashland haven for metal-heads and beer-loving, whisky-swilling rockers. Folks wielded foam swords and daggers as the members of the Metal Shakespeare Company recreated scenes from “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “Romeo and Juliet” and many other classic pieces by Ashland’s literary idol. The Metal Shakespeare troupe performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Green Show this summer, to a pleased audience of theater goers.

Following in the musical tracks of bands such as Iron Maiden, Dio and Judas Priest, the Metal Shakespeare Company has taken the relationship between metal and literature to a new level. Performing in Shakespearean costumes, with songs based on the great Bard’s plays, Metal Shakespeare is a breath of fresh sulfuric air for the theater-loving Ashland community.

If costumes, great music and props weren’t enough, the Olde English language, stage antics and humor of Lord Simms, Viceroy Matthew, Sir Meriwether and William Sly were sure to entertain. The crowd was at the same time spectators to a great musical performance and chorus members in a bizarre and new play.

“Both of the times we have been here, Ashland treated us really well. It’s one of the best places for us. I mean, there are few places that have banners with Shakespeare’s image on them downtown,” said Lord Simm the band’s singer.

“It almost never happens anywhere else that someone comes up and just starts reciting Shakespeare during the show,” he said. After the show, SOU senior and theater arts major Clinton Clark quoted the first line of “Twelfth Night” to describe the evening.

“If music be the fruit of love, play on,” Clark said.

The show was well-received by the crowd, especially the encore cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver,” which found Simms singing from the rafters of the building while crazed dancers dueled with foam swords and daggers in the mosh pit. The tenacious and creative spirit of this multi-talented troupe of musicians kept the audience alive with a fire that is unique.

The Metal Shakespeare Company successfully melded the theatrical representation of Shakespeare’s words with an intentionally cheesy 80s metal package.

This band that seemed so appropriate to the atmosphere of Ashland, was born in the city of Portland. They have one full album of music, a sample of which can be heard at www.myspace.com/bardcore .

Stillwater is located in Ashland at 1951 Highway 66.