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Oxfordian theater critic

On our drive to Stratford on Saturday, Richard introduced us to an Oxfordian theater critic he had discovered on the web. According to his website, Bob Bows has been reviewing regional theater for over 11 years. His reviews are broadcast on KUVO 89.3 FM and published in The Denver Post. In an August 10, 2007 review of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's All's Well That Ends Well, Bows had this to say:

"Let's be frank: In Shakespeare, there are no problem plays, only problematic interpretations. The root of the issue is the refusal by entrenched academic and ancillary industries to acknowledge that many think Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the actual author of the plays, sonnets, etc. attributed to William Shakespeare."

On his website, ColoradoDrama, Bows provides an essay explaining why he feels the authorship question has a place in theatrical criticism. He says:

"It is of the utmost importance that we do not allow these misperceptions to continue, for understanding the nature of this genre is as integral to its theatrical presentation as theatre is integral to our spiritual health . . ."

I was pretty much gob-smacked. Who knew there was this guy out there shouting from the mountaintop?

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