William Shakespeare

PippinTook · 10-24-2004, 07:55 PM

Do any of your guys like Shakespeare? It's kind of hard not to. What plays have you read? Which is your favorite and why?

I've read (so far, but many more to come)
Julius Caesar
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Twelfth Night
Taming of the Shrew
As You Like It
Romeo and Juliet

My favorites are definately Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream. I love the comedies, and I adore Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. I had two fish named Andrew and Toby, but I had to give them away because we moved. I'm actually not quite finished with Romeo and Juliet, which I have liked but not as much as the others. It's really rather frustrating.

Anywho, I love Shakespeare, how about you?

Count Comfect · 10-24-2004, 09:36 PM

Will is definitely the best - read over 20 of the plays so far, which would make a long list now. But I do believe the Bard of Avon thread is still extant for discussing that, although I don't think it's been posted in since August.

Beren3000 · 10-25-2004, 07:20 AM

I haven't read any of his "popular" plays, but I love the ones I've read so far:

Henry VI (all three parts)
Richard III
Titus Andronicus
The Comedy of Errors (currently reading it)

My favorite has to be Richard III, there's this monologue that Richard says near the end of the play that is just BEAUTIFUL!

brownjenkins · 10-25-2004, 07:21 AM

i've taken a few courses and read all of his plays... i have many favorites... but my top few are probably macbeth, othello, the tempest, measure for measure, twelfth night and as you like it

***Fat middle*** · 10-25-2004, 09:30 AM

I ran a messagge board about Shakespeare some years ago with another mooter, Elanor. Well, it was not a great success (I think we never had more than five active users

) but it was a lot of fun! The board was on the ezboard platform and now it's completely lost because we didn't want to pay for it

Okay, my favourite plays are Richard II, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear... well, I could add a lot more

brownjenkins · 10-25-2004, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat middle

I ran a messagge board about Shakespeare some years ago with another mooter, Elanor. Well, it was not a great success (I think we never had more than five active users

) but it was a lot of fun! The board was on the ezboard platform and now it's completely lost because we didn't want to pay for it

Okay, my favourite plays are Richard II, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear... well, I could add a lot more

cool... wish i knew... i would have been #6

*thinks we should start a shakespeare section*

***Valandil*** · 10-25-2004, 09:37 AM

I have not read 'Much Ado About Nothing' - but the movie version from several years back was HILARIOUS! How faithful was it to his script?

brownjenkins · 10-25-2004, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valandil

I have not read 'Much Ado About Nothing' - but the movie version from several years back was HILARIOUS! How faithful was it to his script?

very faithful... most productions that kenneth branagh has been a part of usually are... henry v, much ado about nothing, hamlet, othello <--- all required viewing

***Rían*** · 10-25-2004, 11:48 AM

alright, I need to get my lazy buns over to a bookstore and buy a set of his works! In the meantime, I'll get some of those movies

Count Comfect · 10-25-2004, 12:22 PM

A set of his works shouldn't be too hard to find... he is the most famous playwright ever

Branagh's versions are always very true to the text, although I personally thought his Hamlet dragged a bit. Actually, more than a bit. But I'll watch his Much Ado or Henry V anyday.

Best Shakespeare movie I've seen though is Looking for Richard: it's Richard III (also coincidentally probably my favorite play) with Al Pacino as Richard, and a lot of other big actors in the other roles, interspersed with them discussing how they want to do the play. Sort of a making-of-Richard III documentary that includes a performance of the play.

dawningoftime · 10-26-2004, 12:19 AM

I like
Much Ado About Nothing
Taming of the Shrew
Measure for Measure
Midsummer's Night Dream

Ok I like the comedies mostly. I just got a copy of Taming of the Shrew w/ John Cleese as Patrucio (sp?)....he was born for that role. The only Kenneth Brannagnah interpretation I have not liked was "Loves Labor Lost" I couldn't make it through the first half hour of that movie before turning it off.

Forkbeard · 10-26-2004, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawningoftime

I like
Much Ado About Nothing
Taming of the Shrew
Measure for Measure
Midsummer's Night Dream

Ok I like the comedies mostly. I just got a copy of Taming of the Shrew w/ John Cleese as Patrucio (sp?)....he was born for that role. The only Kenneth Brannagnah interpretation I have not liked was "Loves Labor Lost" I couldn't make it through the first half hour of that movie before turning it off.

Ah, Shakespeare fans!! Whoo Hoo!! But how to choose favorites? Very hard....at the moment, Henry V, Macbeth, The Tempest, Hamlet, Measure for Measure.......although that could change as others name other plays!

BeardofPants · 10-26-2004, 01:13 AM

Woah, deja vu, I just answered this on another board.

My favourite is A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Hasty Ent · 10-26-2004, 12:17 PM

I love Shakespeare, although it's been years since I read a play from start to finish. I tend to dip into his sonnets, or read a couple of scenes from his plays when I have an urge. I appreciate his work most when it's performed, I think. Last August I was lucky enough to see three plays at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada: Macbeth, Cymbeline and Henry VIII.

The movies are wonderful, too.... they recently aired Branagh's Henry V on PBS and I had a chance to see it again.... we few, we happy few, we band of brothers........ what an outstanding performance!

Also liked Ian McKellen in Richard III, and strangely enough, Ethan Hawke in Hamlet, though I did prefer Branagh's version.... :blush:

guess I just like any adaptation of the Bard's work....

sun-star · 10-26-2004, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hasty Ent

guess I just like any adaptation of the Bard's work....

Me too. I've never yet found a Shakespeare play or adaptation that I couldn't like in some way...

My current favourites are Measure for Measure, Hamlet and Richard III. I saw the latter along with As You Like It in Stratford last year, and loved them both. I also went to see All's Well That Ends Well in London in April - a rather odd play, but it was a great production.

And let me speak up for the sonnets, which I adore and re-read often. I think we discussed this in the Bard of Avon thread, but does anyone have a favourite sonnet?

Count Comfect · 10-26-2004, 07:03 PM

There was a big listing of favorite sonnets in Bard of Avon, but no reason they can't be mentioned here

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun...

Ah.

We get to read King Lear for my Drama class on Fools next week. It's going to be amazingsuperfantasticmaravilloso.

Millane · 10-26-2004, 07:14 PM

Measure for Measure and Hamlet, ive never been a great fan of Shakespeares works, i didnt mind Macbeth but i just cant get into them. Measure for Measure and Hamlet are big exceptions though, loved them both. I chose to write on Measure for Measure for my exam next thursday, it wont be good though

***Rían*** · 10-26-2004, 10:07 PM

woo hoo! Just got back from the bookstore with "The complete works of WS" in my hot little hands!

Count Comfect · 10-26-2004, 10:39 PM

excellent! What edition?

Fenir_LacDanan · 10-27-2004, 12:01 AM

Just on the Shakespeare "movies", as we seem to be calling them, I would like to know what people thought of Baz Lurhmanns Romeo and Juliet, with Di Caprio and Danes in the title role.
I thought it was great, and I'm not even that much a fan of that particular play. I felt it helped to make shakespeare modern, and it went to prove that his work is indeed timeless, as the underlying themes within the play, love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, are just as constant now as they were in 1600.

Plus I thought the little adaptions to modern from old were cool.
Romeo walks past the scene of the initial brawl of Capulet and Montague, of act1 sc1, and asks Benvolio what happened here, as he see's the blood. In the movie, they are watching TV, and a news story shows the fight.
And the use of guns as swords is also very cool. I think it's Old Montague who says to his wife: "give me my Long Sword", so he can go off and fight Old Capulet, but in the movie, he is reaching for an Assault rifle.

I just think it was quite cleverly done.

Anyway, I am more a fan of the histories, than the tradgedies or comedies. Henry the Fifth and Richard the Third being the best of these.

10-24-2004, 07:55 PM	#1
PippinTook The Infamous Tea Hobbit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Riding my Attack Llama, CORY! Posts: 1,162	William Shakespeare Do any of your guys like Shakespeare? It's kind of hard not to. What plays have you read? Which is your favorite and why? I've read (so far, but many more to come) Julius Caesar A Midsummer Night's Dream Twelfth Night Taming of the Shrew As You Like It Romeo and Juliet My favorites are definately Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream. I love the comedies, and I adore Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. I had two fish named Andrew and Toby, but I had to give them away because we moved. I'm actually not quite finished with Romeo and Juliet, which I have liked but not as much as the others. It's really rather frustrating. Anywho, I love Shakespeare, how about you? __________________ http://jupiter.walagata.com/w/shanakdakhete/svbf.gif If I can stop one heart from aching, I shall not live in vain. -Emily Dickinson But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought By the touch of the Master's hand. Though she be but little, she is fierce! -MSND

10-24-2004, 09:36 PM	#2
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	Will is definitely the best - read over 20 of the plays so far, which would make a long list now. But I do believe the Bard of Avon thread is still extant for discussing that, although I don't think it's been posted in since August. __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

10-25-2004, 07:21 AM	#4
brownjenkins Advocatus Diaboli Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Reality Posts: 3,767	i've taken a few courses and read all of his plays... i have many favorites... but my top few are probably macbeth, othello, the tempest, measure for measure, twelfth night and as you like it __________________ Your reality, sir, is lies and balderdash and I'm delighted to say that I have no grasp of it whatsoever.

10-25-2004, 09:30 AM	#5
*Fat middle* Mootis per forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Spain Posts: 61,439	I ran a messagge board about Shakespeare some years ago with another mooter, Elanor. Well, it was not a great success (I think we never had more than five active users ) but it was a lot of fun! The board was on the ezboard platform and now it's completely lost because we didn't want to pay for it Okay, my favourite plays are Richard II, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear... well, I could add a lot more __________________ Do not be hasty. That is my motto. Now we'll have a drink and go to the Entmoot.

10-25-2004, 09:37 AM	#7
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	I have not read 'Much Ado About Nothing' - but the movie version from several years back was HILARIOUS! How faithful was it to his script? __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

10-25-2004, 07:20 AM	#3
Beren3000 Fëanorophobic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the pages of a book Posts: 1,417	I haven't read any of his "popular" plays, but I love the ones I've read so far: Henry VI (all three parts) Richard III Titus Andronicus The Comedy of Errors (currently reading it) My favorite has to be Richard III, there's this monologue that Richard says near the end of the play that is just BEAUTIFUL!

10-25-2004, 11:48 AM	#9
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	alright, I need to get my lazy buns over to a bookstore and buy a set of his works! In the meantime, I'll get some of those movies __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

10-25-2004, 12:22 PM	#10
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	A set of his works shouldn't be too hard to find... he is the most famous playwright ever Branagh's versions are always very true to the text, although I personally thought his Hamlet dragged a bit. Actually, more than a bit. But I'll watch his Much Ado or Henry V anyday. Best Shakespeare movie I've seen though is Looking for Richard: it's Richard III (also coincidentally probably my favorite play) with Al Pacino as Richard, and a lot of other big actors in the other roles, interspersed with them discussing how they want to do the play. Sort of a making-of-Richard III documentary that includes a performance of the play. __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

10-26-2004, 12:19 AM	#11
dawningoftime Enting Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 90	I like Much Ado About Nothing Taming of the Shrew Measure for Measure Midsummer's Night Dream Ok I like the comedies mostly. I just got a copy of Taming of the Shrew w/ John Cleese as Patrucio (sp?)....he was born for that role. The only Kenneth Brannagnah interpretation I have not liked was "Loves Labor Lost" I couldn't make it through the first half hour of that movie before turning it off. __________________ Audio Editor

10-26-2004, 01:13 AM	#13
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Woah, deja vu, I just answered this on another board. My favourite is A Midsummer Night's Dream. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

10-26-2004, 12:17 PM	#14
Hasty Ent Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 516	I love Shakespeare, although it's been years since I read a play from start to finish. I tend to dip into his sonnets, or read a couple of scenes from his plays when I have an urge. I appreciate his work most when it's performed, I think. Last August I was lucky enough to see three plays at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada: Macbeth, Cymbeline and Henry VIII. The movies are wonderful, too.... they recently aired Branagh's Henry V on PBS and I had a chance to see it again.... we few, we happy few, we band of brothers........ what an outstanding performance! Also liked Ian McKellen in Richard III, and strangely enough, Ethan Hawke in Hamlet, though I did prefer Branagh's version.... :blush: guess I just like any adaptation of the Bard's work....

10-26-2004, 07:03 PM	#16
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	There was a big listing of favorite sonnets in Bard of Avon, but no reason they can't be mentioned here My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun... Ah. We get to read King Lear for my Drama class on Fools next week. It's going to be amazingsuperfantasticmaravilloso. __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

10-26-2004, 07:14 PM	#17
Millane The Dude Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the altar of my ego Posts: 1,685	Measure for Measure and Hamlet, ive never been a great fan of Shakespeares works, i didnt mind Macbeth but i just cant get into them. Measure for Measure and Hamlet are big exceptions though, loved them both. I chose to write on Measure for Measure for my exam next thursday, it wont be good though __________________ Ill heal your wounds, ill set you free,

10-26-2004, 10:07 PM	#18
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	woo hoo! Just got back from the bookstore with "The complete works of WS" in my hot little hands! __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

10-26-2004, 10:39 PM	#19
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	excellent! What edition? __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

10-27-2004, 12:01 AM	#20
Fenir_LacDanan Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Free, happy, drunk and sincere Posts: 346	Just on the Shakespeare "movies", as we seem to be calling them, I would like to know what people thought of Baz Lurhmanns Romeo and Juliet, with Di Caprio and Danes in the title role. I thought it was great, and I'm not even that much a fan of that particular play. I felt it helped to make shakespeare modern, and it went to prove that his work is indeed timeless, as the underlying themes within the play, love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, are just as constant now as they were in 1600. Plus I thought the little adaptions to modern from old were cool. Romeo walks past the scene of the initial brawl of Capulet and Montague, of act1 sc1, and asks Benvolio what happened here, as he see's the blood. In the movie, they are watching TV, and a news story shows the fight. And the use of guns as swords is also very cool. I think it's Old Montague who says to his wife: "give me my Long Sword", so he can go off and fight Old Capulet, but in the movie, he is reaching for an Assault rifle. I just think it was quite cleverly done. Anyway, I am more a fan of the histories, than the tradgedies or comedies. Henry the Fifth and Richard the Third being the best of these. __________________ Audaces fortuna juvat

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