Best Departed Shakespearean

Cymbeline is rarely mounted these days, but it was performed at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival last summer. It was last seen there in 1975, directed by festival founder Jack Crouch. At the age of 84, and shortly after attending this season’s offerings, Crouch died. His friends say that one of his favorite lyrics in all of Shakespeare came from Cymbeline:

“Fear no more the heat o’ th’ sun

Nor the furious winter’s rages;

Though thy worldly task hast done,

Home art gone and ta’en thy wages.

Golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney sweepers come to dust.”