Join the Rhode Island Historical Society in partnership with the National Parks Service Roger Williams Memorial on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. for a free virtual program “A Key into the 17th Century.”

Ben Crystal, an Old Pronunciation English expert, will break down the mechanics of the OPE dialect, as well as recite passages written by Roger Williams and Shakespeare. This program will allow the audience to experience what it would have been like to listen to these iconic works spoken in the dialects of those who wrote them.

This will be the first time in several hundred years that the sounds of Roger Williams’s works will be heard in its original pronunciation. To quote Roger Williams himself, “A little Key may open a Box, where lies a bunch of Keyes.” This experience will open the doors to a new perspective and understanding of what life in the 1600s was like. The program will encourage individuals to dive into their imagination and experience life in the 1600s.

The public can register for this free Zoom program by visiting bit.ly/2UQXIde.

Crystal is an actor, author, producer and explorer in original practices of Shakespeare rehearsal and production based out of Anglesea, Wales, United Kingdom. He has led original practice explorations for Shakespeare’s Globe, the British Library, and the British Council. He performed the title role in the world contemporary premier of “Hamlet in Original Pronunciation,” and in 2012 was the curator and creative director for a CD of “Shakespeare in Original Pronunciation” for the British Library.