zooropamanda
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
I know we have a few Shakespeare fans around here and we've discussed him before but I am interested to know why you like his work, or why you don't.
I adore Shakespeare but I do admit that I prefer the comedies to the tragedies. I still enjoy the tragedies and think plays like Macbeth, othello, and King Lear are brilliant, but I'd much rather go and see Much Ado if I had the choice.
A few years back, The Sydney Theatre Company had productions happening on The Wharf. The company is situated on a wharf and they would open up one of the underneath holding bays, put up a rickety old stage and lay out some old wooden pews for us to sit on.
Now it was on the water and in winter with the doors open. It was hell going to see plays there but it gave you that Elizabethan experience.
Sitting on those wooden benches for 3 hours plus watching Antony and Cleopatra, in the howling wind was pretty hard going. Certainly not like seeing them at The Opera House. They did this great Elizabethan jig at the end and it was the highlight of the show. Very bawdy.
I've seen them done so many different ways. I saw a modern version of a Midsummer at The Opera House once which was great, ive seen the very straight Romeo and Juliet. I find it interesting to see how different directors come up with their version of the plays. I think a lot of the time, Shakespeare was intending his lines to be quite crude but thats not even touched on in the inflections that the actors use.
My favourite would have to be a version of A Midsummer Night's Dream that was put on in our Royal Botannical Gardens here in Sydney. It was brilliant and I saw it 3 times. They had the first scenes before Fairyland by a big pond and we were invited to have a picnic as we watched under the stars. Once it turned into fairyland, we were asked to get up and walk to this other section of the gardens which was situated on a hill overlooking the harbour. It was magical and I dont think I'll ever forget it.
Last year when I was in London, I went to The Globe Theatre but unfortunately didn't get time to see a play there or go on a tour. We arrived just as the plays were starting. If you go early in the morning, you can go inside the theatre and do a tour.
I did however get myself a Globe penny that has a pic of the theatre on it on one side and reads "Admit to My Place One Penny In the Yard" with a pic of Will. Apparently for one penny people could stand in the yard of the theatre, rather than sit, and watch. My other prized possession is a teeny blue book of Shakespeare's Sonnets that my aunt brought me back from Stratford. Inside the cover it has a sticker which says "This book was purchased at Shakespeare's birthplace."
Do u have any particular versions of plays that you love? Do you prefer the comedies or tragedies?
Do you think its a load of tripe?
If we shadows have offended
Think but this, and all is mended
That you have slumbered here
while these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme
no more yielding but a dream
Gentles, do not reprehend
if you pardon
we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck
if we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call.
So goodnight unto you all,
Give me your hands, if we be friends
and Robin shall restore amends.
------------------
*I am a cowgirl of funk*
[This message has been edited by zooropamanda (edited 04-04-2002).]
I adore Shakespeare but I do admit that I prefer the comedies to the tragedies. I still enjoy the tragedies and think plays like Macbeth, othello, and King Lear are brilliant, but I'd much rather go and see Much Ado if I had the choice.
A few years back, The Sydney Theatre Company had productions happening on The Wharf. The company is situated on a wharf and they would open up one of the underneath holding bays, put up a rickety old stage and lay out some old wooden pews for us to sit on.
Now it was on the water and in winter with the doors open. It was hell going to see plays there but it gave you that Elizabethan experience.
Sitting on those wooden benches for 3 hours plus watching Antony and Cleopatra, in the howling wind was pretty hard going. Certainly not like seeing them at The Opera House. They did this great Elizabethan jig at the end and it was the highlight of the show. Very bawdy.
I've seen them done so many different ways. I saw a modern version of a Midsummer at The Opera House once which was great, ive seen the very straight Romeo and Juliet. I find it interesting to see how different directors come up with their version of the plays. I think a lot of the time, Shakespeare was intending his lines to be quite crude but thats not even touched on in the inflections that the actors use.
My favourite would have to be a version of A Midsummer Night's Dream that was put on in our Royal Botannical Gardens here in Sydney. It was brilliant and I saw it 3 times. They had the first scenes before Fairyland by a big pond and we were invited to have a picnic as we watched under the stars. Once it turned into fairyland, we were asked to get up and walk to this other section of the gardens which was situated on a hill overlooking the harbour. It was magical and I dont think I'll ever forget it.
Last year when I was in London, I went to The Globe Theatre but unfortunately didn't get time to see a play there or go on a tour. We arrived just as the plays were starting. If you go early in the morning, you can go inside the theatre and do a tour.
I did however get myself a Globe penny that has a pic of the theatre on it on one side and reads "Admit to My Place One Penny In the Yard" with a pic of Will. Apparently for one penny people could stand in the yard of the theatre, rather than sit, and watch. My other prized possession is a teeny blue book of Shakespeare's Sonnets that my aunt brought me back from Stratford. Inside the cover it has a sticker which says "This book was purchased at Shakespeare's birthplace."
Do u have any particular versions of plays that you love? Do you prefer the comedies or tragedies?
Do you think its a load of tripe?
If we shadows have offended
Think but this, and all is mended
That you have slumbered here
while these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme
no more yielding but a dream
Gentles, do not reprehend
if you pardon
we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck
if we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call.
So goodnight unto you all,
Give me your hands, if we be friends
and Robin shall restore amends.
------------------
*I am a cowgirl of funk*
[This message has been edited by zooropamanda (edited 04-04-2002).]
