Something had been smoked in the pipe bowls and stems unearthed from William Shakespeare' garden in Stratford-upon-Avon; the question was what. Researchers in South Africa now have gas chromatography mass spectrometry to thank for their answer. A piece in the Conversation based on the report published in the South African Journal of Science explains the "technique is very sensitive to residues that can be preserved in pipes even if they had been smoked 400 years ago." Eight of the 24 pipe-fragment samples tested were shown to contain cannabis; another had evidence of nicotine, and two more "evidence for Peruvian cocaine from coca leaves."
SHAKESPEARE: THE WHOLE SHEBANG
The Abbott and Othello Show - Drama of a jealous king who can't get to first base with his wife because of his aide's assistance and his assistant's aid.
Twelfth Night Live - Two sets of twins and the "Not Ready for Center Stage Players" lampoon politics and society at large. Recurring characters include Sir Belch-meister, The Enchantment Lady, and Ye Olde Bees.
A Midsummer's Night at the Opera - The three Muse Brothers make life miserable for some pompous asses.
The Nutty Merchant of Venice - A Jewish money lender gets his Italian buddy in dutch.
I Love Lucy's Labour Lost - Princess Lucy and her lady-in-waiting, Ethel, try to sneak into King Ricky's academy and night club.
As You Like it Hot - Women dressed like men fall in love with men dressed like Marilyn Monroe.
Abbott and Othello Meet Frankenstein - the sequel that was cranked out after the success of the first one.
Another Fine Tempest - A bumbling pair of delivery men try to deliver a magic cauldron up Mt. Olympus and anger the gods.
The Hamletmooners - The Great Dane knows that the king knows that he knows that the king knows that he knows about his father. A blabbermouth ghost told him.
Fibber Macbeth and Molly - A murderous prince comes out of the cluttered closet.
Henry Aldrich IV - A teenage monarch goes through an awkward age -- the Middle Ages.
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Ado About Nothing - A set of twins and lots of comedians go crazy looking for true love and the Big "W."
The Three Stooges of Verona - Three knuckleheads come to town, are mistaken for plumbers and make a mess of people's lives, loves, and lawns.
The Comedy of Errors, Bloopers and Practical Jokes - Out-takes from all Shakespeare's plays.
Abbott & Othello Go to Mars - What can we tell you? A Moorish king and a holy man get launched into space. We don't know what he was thinking, either. You buy the premise, you by the bit. Besides, we are committed to doing all of the plays, you know?
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He was certainly ahead of his time, wasn't he? And it's all public domain, right there for the taking! This stuff is so amazing, they'll probably save it for a pledge drive or something. So stay tuned!