Shakespeare makes life better.
Most of the posts in this category are simply leftovers from a previous era before the site had categories. Over time I plan to reduce that number to zero and remove this category. Until then, here they are. I had to put something in the box.
I don’t know who Kate Tempest is, but I hope with a name like that this is not the only Shakespearean thing she’s done or will do. I’m glad I found this, because on this of all days in particular, I take tremendous joy and comfort in the phrase “my Shakespeare”. Enjoy:
My kids are on school vacation this week and yesterday (April 22) we took the day off and went in town to do Boston things like go on a Duck Tour and have lunch in the North End (complete with cannoli from Mike’s Pastry).
During the duck tour we passed by the Boston Public Library and I was reminded that they have quite a Shakespeare collection (which I have visited). I had a fleeting moment to think that we should walk over when the tour is over and see if we can’t see it again, but the timing didn’t work, we were parked too far away, blah blah blah. I also had no idea if it’s normally open to the public.
Then I discover today that they’re opening their collection to the public for Shakespeare’s 400th. My first thought is, “Aw come on, and I was that close and missed it?!” Turns out they’re opening the collection starting in October.
So now we’ve all got plenty of time to plan a trip! It’s a 10 minute drive from where I work. I wonder if I could make it on my lunch hour?
A little something different for Shakespeare Day! I’ve had a copy of Presenting Shakespeare for a little while, but wasn’t really sure the best way to review it. It’s a hardcover book full of nothing but posters from Shakespeare productions. So how do you talk about it? I tried taking pictures (since I did not have any from the publisher) but that didn’t work very well.
So you get a rare video review! Enjoy.
It’s a very cool book to appreciate the more visual side of Shakespearean interpretation. Admittedly that’s not me – I’m all about the words words words 🙂
My oldest had to write a sonnet for her homework. The rules set down were, in order, that it should be:
Sitting on my DVD shelf is the old 1936 Romeo and Juliet starring Norma Shearer. I keep telling myself to watch it, but this the year 2016 and “watch the DVD” in this house means, “rip it on the computer, put it on the video server, and watch it at will on television.” But of the four computers floating randomly around my house at any time – two modern Macbooks and two Chromebooks – none of them have a DVD drive. 🙁
So I was looking on YouTube for clips to post, and I discovered a channel called Sword Fights Galore! which is nothing but clips of sword fights from classic movies. Awesome!
So, check it out – 1936 Romeo and Juliet, just the sword fights:
We start with Benvolio vs. Tybalt in the “Peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee” opening:
Then we jump right to Mercutio vs Tybalt. “Come, you rat catcher! Will you walk?”
Doesn’t end well for Mercutio. Enter Romeo the avenger! I love Tybalt’s death scene.
Poor Paris was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
One of these days I’ll get the DVD into my online collection and get to watch the whole thing. Of course now I’ve spoiled it for myself by watching all the good parts 😉