Remember, Remember the Fifth of November...

Opus officially opened last night with a great performance at which playwright Michael Hollinger was on hand. We're super excited for the run, and you can hear more about the show from the Bella Trio's Nicola Reilly right here tomorrow.

But with Equivocation coming up later this month, we'd be remiss if we didn't wish everyone a happy Guy Fawkes Day! The most nortorious conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot that's explored in Equivocation, Guy Fawkes was found beneath the House of Lords early on the morning of November 5th, 1605 along with 36 barrels of gunpowder and, one would assume, a distintctly surprised expression on his face. Fawkes was arrested for attempting to blow up the English Parliament and King James I, tortured and executed, as were several other men who were implicated in the conspiracy.

But while many of the conspirators names are now obscured by centuries of history, Fawkes bashing has remained a national tradition in England for more than 400 years. Every November 5th, the antion celebrates Guy Fawkes day, which is marked by bonfires, fireworks displays, and the burning of countless effigies of Fawkes throughout the nation. It's not just a history lesson for younger generations of Britons, but also an important moral tale - the moral being: Do not earn the ire of British royalty, because they really know how to hold a grudge.

But hey, if you're going to remind an entire nation to hate a guy every year, you might as well have fireworks, right?