allwildgirl
Cathlete
Anyone else here a Shakespeare fan?
Beware the Ides of March!!!!
- Thread starter allwildgirl
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allwildgirl
Cathlete
TeTe, somehow I knew you'd answer
Do you have a fave play?
Do you have a fave play?
allwildgirl
Cathlete
"Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."
That's one of my favourite passages. I think Julius Caeasar and King Lear are my favourite plays, but that changes with the wind, of course.
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."
That's one of my favourite passages. I think Julius Caeasar and King Lear are my favourite plays, but that changes with the wind, of course.
I know it's cliche, but I love "King Lear." The first time I read it; that line, "O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven" just sent shivers. I just cried.
I also love "Macbeth." If you're a Shakespeare fan, you really should rent the movie "Scotland, PA." It's Macbeth set in 1970s America, and instead of a kingdom, it's a burger franchise at stake. Christopher Walken plays McDuff and Andy Dick plays one of the "witches," but in this version, they're stoners. I think you'd like it.
How about you? What's your favorite?
I also love "Macbeth." If you're a Shakespeare fan, you really should rent the movie "Scotland, PA." It's Macbeth set in 1970s America, and instead of a kingdom, it's a burger franchise at stake. Christopher Walken plays McDuff and Andy Dick plays one of the "witches," but in this version, they're stoners. I think you'd like it.
How about you? What's your favorite?
allwildgirl
Cathlete
Oh, I don't think King Lear is cliche at all! Most people would say Romeo and Juliet or one of the comedies! I saw it at Stratford and the scene where they ripped Gloucester's eyes out was more horrifying than any slasher movie.
I'll see if I can find that movie. Thanks for the tip. Did you see Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V"? The St. Crispin's Day speech was absolutely brilliant. I even quite liked Mel Gibson's Hamlet. Thought he did a pretty decent job. And I liked the funky Romeo and Juliet with Leo and Claire Danes.
I'll see if I can find that movie. Thanks for the tip. Did you see Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V"? The St. Crispin's Day speech was absolutely brilliant. I even quite liked Mel Gibson's Hamlet. Thought he did a pretty decent job. And I liked the funky Romeo and Juliet with Leo and Claire Danes.
Ronne
Cathlete
It depends on the production. I really like Macbeth but I recently saw a very ropey version of it with a bad Lady Macbeth. She started out bonkers so had nowhere to go really.
I also like As You Like It. And the Roses plays.
The only one I really can't stand is a Midsummer Night's Dream - too whimsical for me.
Ronne
I also like As You Like It. And the Roses plays.
The only one I really can't stand is a Midsummer Night's Dream - too whimsical for me.
Ronne
allwildgirl
Cathlete
Ronne - I saw Midsummer Night's Dream outdoors in a ruined castle in Italy. Believe me, the setting makes a HUGE difference
Uh, yeah, having Lady McB start out bonkers would severely limit her ability to go MORE bonkers later on
Uh, yeah, having Lady McB start out bonkers would severely limit her ability to go MORE bonkers later on
Oh, I thought KB's "Henry V" was amazing. There were parts during the battle scenes where I had to say to myself "it's just a movie" because it was done so well. Loved his St. Crispin's Day speech...I was ready to go fight the French myself!!!
I liked the Leo/Claire "Romeo & Juliet"...especially because of the weird turn at the end...I won't say it for people who haven't seen it. Remember how they did the scene right after Romeo takes the poison and is just about to die??? I thought that take on it was brilliant!!!
Have you ever seen Orson Welle's version of "Macbeth"? It is fantastic...it's in caves and it's dark and it's dirty and it feels like the 11th century.
And I really like Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing." So lusty! And Michael Keaton just cracks me up!
(Oh, and one of my favorite lines from Shakespeare is Juliet's "You kiss by the book!")
I liked the Leo/Claire "Romeo & Juliet"...especially because of the weird turn at the end...I won't say it for people who haven't seen it. Remember how they did the scene right after Romeo takes the poison and is just about to die??? I thought that take on it was brilliant!!!
Have you ever seen Orson Welle's version of "Macbeth"? It is fantastic...it's in caves and it's dark and it's dirty and it feels like the 11th century.
And I really like Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing." So lusty! And Michael Keaton just cracks me up!
(Oh, and one of my favorite lines from Shakespeare is Juliet's "You kiss by the book!")
Ronne
Cathlete
Hi Shelley
Yes I agree, although a couple of years ago I saw Othello outdoors in an Oxford college - fabulous setting, lousy production. I swear the actors were lifting their arms in the air when declaiming speeches!
Best ever production I saw was Macbeth in Manchester in a theatre in the round - it was set in a concentration camp, all the actors had shaved heads and wore striped pyjamas and all sat around the edge of the stage watching while waiting to go on. It took my breath away. At the end, they opened the doors to the outer hall and shone a huge blinding light in ... it gives me goosebumps now just thinking about it.
I once did the three Henry plays in one day! We felt like survivors at the end of that I can tell you!
Sorry I've gone on too long!!!:7
Yes I agree, although a couple of years ago I saw Othello outdoors in an Oxford college - fabulous setting, lousy production. I swear the actors were lifting their arms in the air when declaiming speeches!
Best ever production I saw was Macbeth in Manchester in a theatre in the round - it was set in a concentration camp, all the actors had shaved heads and wore striped pyjamas and all sat around the edge of the stage watching while waiting to go on. It took my breath away. At the end, they opened the doors to the outer hall and shone a huge blinding light in ... it gives me goosebumps now just thinking about it.
I once did the three Henry plays in one day! We felt like survivors at the end of that I can tell you!
Sorry I've gone on too long!!!:7
allwildgirl
Cathlete
Well, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WENDY!!!
allwildgirl
Cathlete
Okay, you asked for it. But boy, this is gonna be long!
What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.