New Poll - G'day, Will !
Thu, 31 Mar 2005, 11:43 amcrgwllms15 posts in thread
New Poll - G'day, Will !
Thu, 31 Mar 2005, 11:43 amNew poll topic:
Which play would you say was the best introduction to Shakespeare, to a non-theatre audience?
The Poll-tergeist
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Which play would you say was the best introduction to Shakespeare, to a non-theatre audience?
The Poll-tergeist
[%sig%]
Re: New Poll - G'day, Will !
Fri, 1 Apr 2005, 09:45 pmBest Bard for the non theatre goer?
Well, here's my breakdown of the canon for user friendliness. Remember I am judging the plays on accessibility rather than literary or dramatic merits. And its all just my opinion anyway.
THE HISTORIES
Avoid these like the plague. They need a fair amount of background knowledge and have huge casts of people who appear to do little but run on and die. Also beware the numerous aliases floating around. Just when you've got it sussed that the angry young man is called both Harry AND Percy (Henry IV pt 1) you will be thrown by references to "young Northumberland". And its still him.
EARLY COMEDIES
"Shrew", "Merry Wives", "Errors". "Two Gents". All quite accessible but lacking in the subtlety that (for me) makes Shakespeare so wonderful. But usually good for some simple characterisations and broad slapstick/physical stuff (note Bell Shakespeare's excellent "Errors" last year.
"Love's Labour's Lost" is a nightmare. The language is waaay complex and you should save it till you are more at home with the Elizabethan stage. It is David Meadows favourite comedy. 'Nuff said!
MATURE COMEDIES
Here I would agree with Mick and say that "Dream" , "Much Ado" and "Twelfth Night" and all excellent starter plays for anyone approaching Will's work. I would also add "Merchant of Venice" They have a good balance of action and comedy and have more depth than the earlier stuff. "AYLI" is a beuatiful play, but is a philosophical rather than an action piece.
ROMAN PLAYS
"Julius Caesar" is clean and clear in its language. Very accessible. A lot of characters though, especially in the second half battle scenes. A good choice. "Coriolanus" and "Antony and Cleo" are both problems. The former has the least likeable hero in the whole canon and can be dull in places. The latter has a "cast of thousands" and jumps about a great deal...good poetry though.
"Titus Andronicus" can be fun if the gore is given full rein. Very amateurish play though. "Timon of Athens" is really curious, not so much hard to get into, just lacking a solid storyline.
TRAGEDIES
"Romeo and Juliet" is a well known story, but was written quite early and is a little "raw" as a play. Still one of the most popular things he ever wrote though. I think it may be quite long for some, but clearly high up on the list of approachable plays.
"Macbeth" and "Hamlet" are good choices. the first is excellent: short, full of action, blood murder and magic. Possibly the best beginners tragedy. "Hamlet" can be excellent with good actors, but can drag for length and lack of action.
"Lear" is a wonderful play,, poetic, full of charcter and action (man blinded on stage!). It's language may be a little dense for newcomers though.
"Othello" is an excellent play, but not a play of enormous action (till the end).
DARK COMEDIES
Often called the "problem plays" but this is more to do with the fact that they don't sit well as either comedies or tragedies.
"Measure for Measure". Interesting play. Some of the character motivations feel a little strange on first sight. 400 years is a long time ago to get your head around. It does not help if you get the impression that the Duke (say) would have been a bit unbelievanle even then.
"All's Well" Leading lady is a doormat, Ending defies belief. Shows the sort of crap Shakespeare could stoop to when he got bored with a play.
"Troilus and Cressida" An unpleasant piece. If you want to see a man coughing up his own blood into a handkerchief and wishing you would all get syphilis too, then be my guest.
ROMANCES
"Winter's Tale", "Tempest", "Pericles" and "Cymbeline" are all excellent in their individual ways. Warm and mellow, with an optimistic outlook. I feel that by now Shakespeare's language has become very complex and compressed. It is much harder for the beginner to follow. Excellent choices for the more experienced Bardolator though.
Stephen Lee
Well, here's my breakdown of the canon for user friendliness. Remember I am judging the plays on accessibility rather than literary or dramatic merits. And its all just my opinion anyway.
THE HISTORIES
Avoid these like the plague. They need a fair amount of background knowledge and have huge casts of people who appear to do little but run on and die. Also beware the numerous aliases floating around. Just when you've got it sussed that the angry young man is called both Harry AND Percy (Henry IV pt 1) you will be thrown by references to "young Northumberland". And its still him.
EARLY COMEDIES
"Shrew", "Merry Wives", "Errors". "Two Gents". All quite accessible but lacking in the subtlety that (for me) makes Shakespeare so wonderful. But usually good for some simple characterisations and broad slapstick/physical stuff (note Bell Shakespeare's excellent "Errors" last year.
"Love's Labour's Lost" is a nightmare. The language is waaay complex and you should save it till you are more at home with the Elizabethan stage. It is David Meadows favourite comedy. 'Nuff said!
MATURE COMEDIES
Here I would agree with Mick and say that "Dream" , "Much Ado" and "Twelfth Night" and all excellent starter plays for anyone approaching Will's work. I would also add "Merchant of Venice" They have a good balance of action and comedy and have more depth than the earlier stuff. "AYLI" is a beuatiful play, but is a philosophical rather than an action piece.
ROMAN PLAYS
"Julius Caesar" is clean and clear in its language. Very accessible. A lot of characters though, especially in the second half battle scenes. A good choice. "Coriolanus" and "Antony and Cleo" are both problems. The former has the least likeable hero in the whole canon and can be dull in places. The latter has a "cast of thousands" and jumps about a great deal...good poetry though.
"Titus Andronicus" can be fun if the gore is given full rein. Very amateurish play though. "Timon of Athens" is really curious, not so much hard to get into, just lacking a solid storyline.
TRAGEDIES
"Romeo and Juliet" is a well known story, but was written quite early and is a little "raw" as a play. Still one of the most popular things he ever wrote though. I think it may be quite long for some, but clearly high up on the list of approachable plays.
"Macbeth" and "Hamlet" are good choices. the first is excellent: short, full of action, blood murder and magic. Possibly the best beginners tragedy. "Hamlet" can be excellent with good actors, but can drag for length and lack of action.
"Lear" is a wonderful play,, poetic, full of charcter and action (man blinded on stage!). It's language may be a little dense for newcomers though.
"Othello" is an excellent play, but not a play of enormous action (till the end).
DARK COMEDIES
Often called the "problem plays" but this is more to do with the fact that they don't sit well as either comedies or tragedies.
"Measure for Measure". Interesting play. Some of the character motivations feel a little strange on first sight. 400 years is a long time ago to get your head around. It does not help if you get the impression that the Duke (say) would have been a bit unbelievanle even then.
"All's Well" Leading lady is a doormat, Ending defies belief. Shows the sort of crap Shakespeare could stoop to when he got bored with a play.
"Troilus and Cressida" An unpleasant piece. If you want to see a man coughing up his own blood into a handkerchief and wishing you would all get syphilis too, then be my guest.
ROMANCES
"Winter's Tale", "Tempest", "Pericles" and "Cymbeline" are all excellent in their individual ways. Warm and mellow, with an optimistic outlook. I feel that by now Shakespeare's language has become very complex and compressed. It is much harder for the beginner to follow. Excellent choices for the more experienced Bardolator though.
Stephen Lee
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