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Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:16:47 AM

Iamsemisweet

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Any other Shakespeare fans on here? I am especially interested in his historical plays. While I freely admit I am a little weak on the actual history, I am interested in the relationships (such as Hal and Falstaff) as well as how Shakespeare shaped our view of history. I also am interested in hearing about differences in how the same play is produced from one company to another, in terms of setting in different eras, etc.

_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:21:58 AM

myotherself

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I have enjoyed quite a bit of The Bard - although being a Brit means we are force-fed it at school, lol

I've seen various versions of The Merchant of Venice performed, with a particularly striking one set in the 1920s.

But the best had to be a performance of A Midsummer's Night Dream at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, on midsummer's night about 5 years ago. It was pitch black, the sky was clear and the stars twinkled down onto the open stage. No electric lights were used - it was all torchlight.

I will never forget that night...that's when I truly fell in love with Shakespeare

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:27:23 AM

lobodomslavery

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I am big fan of the Bard. No bardolatry here please. Or screw your courage to the sticking place and we shall not fail. O that this too too solid flesh would melt resolve itself into a dew and that the everlasting had not fixed it s cannon against self slaughter. O God, god, how weary stale flat and unprofitable seem to me the uses of this world, things rank and gross in nature possess it merely. To be kinky or not that is the question, with apologies to the Bard, whether it is nobler in the mind to take arms against a sea of critical Women, apologies , or by opposing end them. Seriously though can anyone tell me from which Shakespearean play does the following line come

" the quality of mercy is not strained"

a) the Merchant of Paris
b) the Merchant of Lisbon
c) the Merchant of Venice
D) the Merchant of Venezeula

A B C or D folks. Lots of luck

Enjoy the FUN
kevin

(in reply to myotherself)

Post #: 3

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:28:29 AM

Iamsemisweet

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I would have loved to attend Shakespeare at the Globe. There would certainly have been worse things to have been force fed in school. I went to the Oregon Shakespeare festival last weekend, and saw three plays, including an astounding production of Julius Caeser where Caesar was played by and as a woman. "I come not to praise caesar but to bury her."

< Message edited by Iamsemisweet -- 9/20/2011 8:30:20 AM >

_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

(in reply to myotherself)

Post #: 4

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:32:12 AM

lobodomslavery

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Did anyone ever see the Great Lawrence Olivier perform. Apparently he was magnificent playing King Lear
kevin

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Post #: 5

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:36:06 AM

myotherself

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The cool thing about Shakespeare is that it is written FOR the production, not the words. Sure the words are there and, once you figure out the language, they are beautiful.

But he's built in so much flexibility for the actors, directors, producers et al to actually make the plays their own, to add their own icing to the cake.

I have seen two versions of Taming of the Shrew. One set in ancient Rome, complete with togas, that was rather fun. Another was set in modern-day London and it was a completely different experience.

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There's nowt so queer as folk

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 8:44:05 AM

Iamsemisweet

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I wish I had seen Olivier, but far before my time. I have never seen taming of the shrew, but at some point, I find that the words and the compelling story take over and the costumes and settings become unimportant. OSF is more than comfortable in setting the plays in unusual situations. The version of Hamlet I saw was set in the modern era. Hamlet wore a business suit that became increasingly more tattered as he did. He spent half the play in a jester's ski hat. His mother was played by a black woman. Rosencrantz and guildenstern were a lesbian couple. The whole production was riveting.
I have seen the historical plays beginning with Henry the Third, then Richard, now Henry the IV and V. I assume they are only vaguely historically accurate, but I don't know that much about British history. I am assuming his original audience did.

_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

(in reply to myotherself)

Post #: 7

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 9:22:13 AM

windchymes

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I would like to see the plays live, but reading it in that style of language just boggles my brain. I think it's a biological deficiency, lol. I've tried to read it and I just can't get it to register.

Just a side note, Tom Hanks started out as an actor in the Great Lakes Shakespeare festivals they have in Cleveland, Ohio. I wish I had seen him, I have friends who did, said he was really good.

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 9:23:42 AM

lobodomslavery

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Yeah Tom Hanks is a class actor. Really good
kevin

(in reply to windchymes)

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 9:24:17 AM

myotherself

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It's ok windchymes - I can't read it either!

But it's a play - it's meant to be performed, not read like a novel. Which is why I will only read the book after I've seen it performed...that way it makes one hell of a lot more sense.

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There's nowt so queer as folk

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 9:27:41 AM

FelineFae

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i might be able to think of a couple...

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Post #: 11

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 9:30:31 AM

lobodomslavery

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the language of Shakespeare is a little bit over blown, it would be considered over erudite by the standards of today, but then he is reflecting a society in Britain that was very different, it was a reflection of how people spoke in the 16th century, like today we would talk about sleep overs and thinking processes, whereas in Shakespeare it s solilioquies and so forth, its just a reflection Hamlet is anyway of a human being faced with many challenges , it lends a little pathos to the human condition i think
kevin

(in reply to myotherself)

Post #: 12

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 9:53:08 AM

MadAxeman

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Road signs are over erudite for you mate.

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 10:20:42 AM

lobodomslavery

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oh no You misunderstand, im well able to read and extrapolate meaning in Shakespeare's plays but for the average joe i recognise that is not easy because the language is so markedly different from the syntax and language we use in the contemporary world
kevin

(in reply to MadAxeman)

Post #: 14

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 10:36:10 AM

Iamsemisweet

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I am actually surprised, since I have started attending Shakespeare performances regularly, how understandable the language is. I am not sure what it is like to read, but hearing it performed by excellent actors where every word is understandable seems to make a difference. People in the audience seem to laugh and react at appropriate times, so I am assuming they understand it too. It is important to pay attention and not let one's mind wander, though.

Madaxe, Kevin is interacting appropriately why create a problem in this thread where there isn't one?

< Message edited by Iamsemisweet -- 9/20/2011 10:38:37 AM >

_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

(in reply to lobodomslavery)

Post #: 15

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 10:54:59 AM

MadAxeman

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Calling the language of Shakespeare overblown has to be among the silliest things ever said.
You might as well call the guitar playing of Robert Johnson too bluesy.

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Post #: 16

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 10:58:59 AM

GreedyTop

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I agree with Max.. Overblown? consider when it was written! I think that Willie's language was the equivalent to text speak given the times.. (of course, text sepak THEN was a LOT more poetic than it is now)

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RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 11:02:45 AM

lobodomslavery

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By the standards of today it would considered a little over blown but by the standards of the time it was very reflective of the society and the way people spoke and wrote back then
kevin

(in reply to GreedyTop)

Post #: 18

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 11:17:53 AM

Iamsemisweet

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From: The Great Northwest, USA
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My understanding of Shakespeare is that his plays were well loved and well attended by all classes, including those with relatively little education. So, the language had to have been understandable for everyone, kind of like popular movies today.

_____________________________

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
Alice: How do you know I'm mad?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

(in reply to lobodomslavery)

Post #: 19

RE: Shakespeare - 9/20/2011 11:20:14 AM

lobodomslavery

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oh yeah even the least educated of the day could understand Shakespeare, but the least educated of Shakespeare's would be the equivalent of the most educated and learned of today's class, that's why average joe soaps which most of us are will find the language of Shakespeare if not difficult well say intellectually challenging, but no doubt about it he was a literary genius and You have to applaud his mastery of the English language, he was a magician
kevin

(in reply to Iamsemisweet)

Post #: 20

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