Shakespeare Fan Club

[Brigid]

I kind of read it last year in world lit. I liked it. but it's the only shakespeare I've read besides romeo and juliet, so I'm not really the best judge.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Nadezhda' post='1844281' date='Apr 23 2009, 02:15 PM']Now how's THAT for a pep talk?[/quote]
I love that soliloquy!

[quote name='kafka' post='1845705' date='Apr 24 2009, 06:56 AM']anywho has anyone read 'The Tempest'

that is the one work of his I want to still read. I've heard it is his under-rated best.[/quote]
I've read it. Pretty good. My fave comedy is still Merchant of Venice, though. [quote]To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.[/quote]

[Archaeology cat]

I had to memorise this bit from Julius Caesar my freshman year of high school [quote]It must be by his death: and for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question.
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?--that;--
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may.
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented,
Would run to these and these extremities:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.[/quote]

Edited April 24, 2009 by Archaeology cat

[Archaeology cat]

Anyone read Titus Andronicus?

And what are your favourite film versions of Shakespearean plays? I like Kenneth Branagh's [i]Hamlet[/i]. And his [i]Othello[/i]. Not so keen on his Much Ado; Keanu Reeves is just a bit much. The version of [i]Richard III [/i]with Ian McKellen in it is really great, IMHO.

[Resurrexi]

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!"

[Archaeology cat]

So years ago I was watching some Sesame Street (probably with my little brother, or maybe with a nephew, can't remember). Anyway, Telly, as Julius Caesar, decided to have a triangle party. To enter the party, you had to bring a triangle. Brutus came to the party carrying the number 2. And so Telly had to tell him "That is a 2, Brutus!".

[kafka]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1845727' date='Apr 24 2009, 03:12 AM']Anyone read Titus Andronicus?

And what are your favourite film versions of Shakespearean plays? I like Kenneth Branagh's [i]Hamlet[/i]. And his [i]Othello[/i]. Not so keen on his Much Ado; Keanu Reeves is just a bit much. The version of [i]Richard III [/i]with Ian McKellen in it is really great, IMHO.[/quote]
to be honest I havent seen many movie versions. I saw the Hamlet with Laurence Olivier in glorious black and white. Not bad at all. Also (and you can castigate me if you want) I thought the Baz Luhrmann version of Romeo and Juliet was magnificent. I absolutely love it. Much Ado About Nothing was o.k.

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1845740' date='Apr 24 2009, 04:21 AM']So years ago I was watching some Sesame Street (probably with my little brother, or maybe with a nephew, can't remember). Anyway, Telly, as Julius Caesar, decided to have a triangle party. To enter the party, you had to bring a triangle. Brutus came to the party carrying the number 2. And so Telly had to tell him "That is a 2, Brutus!". [/quote]



No I havent read Titus Andronicus. There are some holes in my Shakepearean education Do you recommend it AC?

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='kafka' post='1845988' date='Apr 24 2009, 05:31 PM']to be honest I havent seen many movie versions. I saw the Hamlet with Laurence Olivier in glorious black and white. Not bad at all. Also (and you can castigate me if you want) I thought the Baz Luhrmann version of Romeo and Juliet was magnificent. I absolutely love it. Much Ado About Nothing was o.k.[/quote] I actually haven't seen Baz Luhrmann's version.


[quote name='kafka' post='1845988' date='Apr 24 2009, 05:31 PM']No I havent read Titus Andronicus. There are some holes in my Shakepearean education Do you recommend it AC?[/quote]
Definitely not his best, but kinda funny just for the over-the-top gore. Very, very bloody. Evidently one of his earliest tragedies. There's a movie version with Anthony Hopkins in it, and he plays the part pretty well.

Ooh, have you seen [url="http://www.reducedshakespeare.com/shakespeare.php"]The Reduced Shakespeare Company[/url]? It's hilarious! There's a filmed copy of their stage act. They do the histories as an American football game, and they do Titus Andronicus as a cooking show (makes sense when you read it). Very funny.

[kafka]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1846108' date='Apr 24 2009, 02:34 PM']I actually haven't seen Baz Luhrmann's version.[/quote]
holy smokes! You have to give it at least one go, especially since you are a Shakespeare buff. I highly recommend it with an accompanying glass of spirits of your choice

Edited April 24, 2009 by kafka

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='kafka' post='1846163' date='Apr 24 2009, 08:52 PM']holy smokes! You have to give it at least one go, especially since you are a Shakespeare buff. I highly recommend it with an accompanying glass of spirits of your choice [/quote]
I'll have to find it. Hmm, should I go with whiskey or wine for the showing?