Sunday, October 20, 2013

A Shakespearean Halloween

A dark Cave. In the middle, a Caldron boiling. Thunder.
                Enter the three Witches.


  1 WITCH.  Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.
  2 WITCH.  Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin'd.
  3 WITCH.  Harpier cries:—'tis time! 'tis time!
 
   
 1 WITCH.  Round about the caldron go;
  In the poison'd entrails throw.—


    Toad, that under cold stone,
    Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!

       ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble; 
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

      
2 WITCH.  Fillet of a fenny snake,
    In the caldron boil and bake; 

    Eye of newt,
 

and toe of frog,

 
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,

 
    Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
    Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,—


    For a charm of powerful trouble,
    Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. 


       ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble;
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

    3 WITCH.  Scale of dragon; tooth of wolf;
    Witches' mummy; maw and gulf 

 
  Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark;
    Root of hemlock digg'd i the dark;



    Liver of blaspheming Jew;
    Gall of goat, and slips of yew
    Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse;
   Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips;

 
Finger of birth-strangled babe
    Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,—
Make the gruel thick and slab: 


Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingrediants of our caldron.      


ALL.  Double, double toil and trouble;
    Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

       2 WITCH.  Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.


Act IV, Scene 1, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

The cast:

Witches Brew Linens and Salad Plates:  Pottery Barn Online
Black dinner plates:  The Dollar Tree
Water and wine glasses:  The Dollar Tree
Short candlesticks:  The Dollar Tree
Tall candlesticks:  Wedding gift from Marshall Field's, 30 years ago
Flatware:  Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings
Dessert glassware, candles:  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Black tablecloths:  Bed, Bath and Beyond
Mercury glass pumpkin and crow:  Pottery Barn
Mini salt and pepper shakers:  Crate and Barrel
Slate servers:  Crate and Barrel

I'm linking to the following parties:

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen
 

12 comments:

Nicki said...

Wow - you really outdid yourself on this one. I am grateful we have no Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn close by - well, our bank account is grateful. Love everything about this - right down to the party goers.

pat said...

Good heavens!!! Maria, you have such a flair for this. Looks like it was a wonderfully eerie evening.

Anonymous said...

Lovely! Macbeth is one of my favorite works and this setting is perfect!

Blondie's Journal said...

What a creative post! Very nice touch with a few lines from The Bard! It looks like your guests are having fun and how could they not? The menu looks terrific and this is just a really neat table!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment! :)

XO,
Jane

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady.
Your Tablescape is beautiful for Halloween looks like a great party with family. Thanks so much for your sweet comments on my tablescape for two. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your family.
XXOO
Diane

xinex said...

This is stunning! Love the poem that goes with the wonderful table setting too...Christine

Diane said...

Fantastic table and you used my favorite scene from my favorite Shakespearean play! I love "Macbeth" and it is perfect for Halloween. Your plates are wonderful - any witch would be pleased lol! What a fabulous post!!

Sarah said...

Maria, this is so clever! I can hardly believe those plates. At first I thought perhaps you had made them. What a fun evening!

Marigene said...

What a festive table...love the salad/dessert plates and linens. Great centerpiece, too.
Have a wonderful week...

Jennie @ Got My Reservations said...

Your Shakespeare plates are amazing! I've never seen them and I love Shakespeare; it's probably a good thing that I didn't see them. I looks like a fun evening -- great post!

Kathleen said...

Those plates are great! What a fun table, Maria, you really set the mood for a Halloween dinner. The menu is a riot!
Thanks for linking to Let's Dish!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

What an amazing table, simply gorgeous amiguita! Se a lucido y con esa rica comida, nada mas mejor! Your attention to the Halloween details is awesome Maria. I love it!!! Thanks for coming and I'm happy 'que te dio un poquito de miedo' mi mesita...jejejejejjjeeee.. Happy weekend.
FABBY