Review The Works of Shakespeare

[Doctor Omega]

Your thoughts on the works of William Shakespeare?

 

[Carol]

No use-by date on original packaging (like the Pharaonic honey found in the pyramids, but a lot newer AND handily already in English - good to go - enjoy!)

 

[Gavin]

handily already in English

True but it's a very dated English that requires a bit of effort to follow. I wonder how long before our language changes to a point where reading (or watching) Shakespeare in its original form will be impossible without effectively learning another language?

 

[Carol]

a very dated English that requires a bit of effort to follow.

A bit of effort to tune in the first time, maybe...but not "very" dated, compared to Chaucer (which I also did at school - and we got told off if we talked about "translating" it).

There are occasional words we don't use any more, but fewer than people often think.
Words Shakespeare was experimenting with - and where the experiment failed
Words we think we know, but which have shifted meaning in 400 years can be the real bugger. If I asked you Shakespeare-style to fetch me another drink "incontinent" - I would mean without delay, not with a leaky bladder. Both meanings have to do with getting your timing right or risking unpleasantness.

Mostly it's the phrasing and the grammar and the wordplay that, badly acted, screws things up - not the words themselves -
I love Eddie Izzard's line "Kill him, he speaks in complete sentences" - in this context.

 

[Gavin]

Mostly it's the phrasing and the grammar and the wordplay that, badly acted, screws things up

True. I've seen performances where they basically try to read the script like lines from poetry and it quickly loses all meaning. Those that perform it in conversational terms (original language and all) demonstrate how meaningful it can be. And being paired with live action often helps add meaning to lines which, read by themselves, are less clear.

 

[Carol]

I've got a 3-hour seminar on Henry V next week - I'll let you know how it goes.

<deep breaths, controls burbling excitement...>

 

[Doctor Omega]

Margot Robbie Plans Shakespeare TV Series





Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap Entertainment label are teaming with the Australian Broadcasting Company, Hoodlum Entertainment and ABC Studios International on a new ten-part series.

Currently in development, the untitled project will be led by a female creative team who will produce ten standalone episodes, each based on a celebrated work of William Shakespeare but re-told from a female perspective and updated to comment on our modern, global society.

Series Concept Creator Giula Sandler (‘Nowhere Boys”) will work across the series and will also write one episode. The project will be produced in Australia, with filming expected to begin in 2018.

The series follows on from the three companies producing the crime procedural drama “Harrow” starring Ioan Gruffudd which is currently airing in Australia ahead of a global launch later this year.

 

[Doctor Omega]

 

[Doctor Omega]

 

[Doctor Omega]

I am not sure that these modern updatings really work...

And what are UNIT from Doctor Who doing in this one?

 

[Doctor Omega]

'To be or not to be?' with Benedict Cumberbatch, David Tennant, Sir Ian McKellan, Dame Judi Dench & Prince Charles - Shakespeare Live! From the RSC