Best Shakespearean Play?
Discussion
I note that the Omnipotent Master has been locking threads that fall short of the standards demanded of this esteemed site.
With this in mind, perhaps we ought to sail towards a more cultured continent of intellectual delight.
May I nominate The Scottish Play, as the pinnacle of young William's achievement?
"Out, out, brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage, but then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing."
But even such heady delights are not free from cultural decay.
Who can forget Polanski's Macbeth?
A delight in every way, save for casting Keith Chegwin as Fleance....
What were you thinking of, Mr Polanski?
Cheers :drink:
Pat
With this in mind, perhaps we ought to sail towards a more cultured continent of intellectual delight.
May I nominate The Scottish Play, as the pinnacle of young William's achievement?
"Out, out, brief candle. Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage, but then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing."
But even such heady delights are not free from cultural decay.
Who can forget Polanski's Macbeth?
A delight in every way, save for casting Keith Chegwin as Fleance....
What were you thinking of, Mr Polanski?
Cheers :drink:
Pat
NYM.
Will you shog off? I would have you solus.
PISTOL.
'Solus,' egregious dog? O viper vile!
The 'solus' in thy most mervailous face;
The 'solus' in thy teeth, and in thy throat,
And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw, perdy;
And, which is worse, within thy nasty mouth!
I do retort the 'solus' in thy bowels;
For I can take, and Pistol's cock is up,
And flashing fire will follow.
I remember being Pistol in this play shortly after it was written. I loved shouting out these lines after I'd been told to shog off
Will you shog off? I would have you solus.
PISTOL.
'Solus,' egregious dog? O viper vile!
The 'solus' in thy most mervailous face;
The 'solus' in thy teeth, and in thy throat,
And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw, perdy;
And, which is worse, within thy nasty mouth!
I do retort the 'solus' in thy bowels;
For I can take, and Pistol's cock is up,
And flashing fire will follow.
I remember being Pistol in this play shortly after it was written. I loved shouting out these lines after I'd been told to shog off
And another...
Not that this has anything at all to do with Shakespeare!!
Shylock.. Semi-feel sorry for him, and find him a bit evil at the same time!
"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?"
>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 23:15
Not that this has anything at all to do with Shakespeare!!
Shylock.. Semi-feel sorry for him, and find him a bit evil at the same time!
"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?"
>> Edited by andy mac on Wednesday 28th September 23:15
I've always been suspicious of Bardverk; the fervour so universally bestowed upon such a body of work to occupy this sacred position of reverence amongst the opinions of so many, almost uniquely elevated, even against the contemporary masters, like Archer or H.Robbins?
So, having suffered the works of Bacon, I mean, Shakey, it is my conclusion that although a worthy, literary curio, it is the equivalent of a Ferrari Daytona: a conveniently compartmentalised idea of the paragon of (in this case literary) creativity - but when sampled next to the breathtaking Pagani Zonda of latter day theatrical virtue (magnum opii like Hawk {The Slayer}, Blade {II} & Raw Deal), then the true exposition of thespionic majesty must needs remain but a distant notion to the blisfully unaware.
Stephen J Cannel.
So, having suffered the works of Bacon, I mean, Shakey, it is my conclusion that although a worthy, literary curio, it is the equivalent of a Ferrari Daytona: a conveniently compartmentalised idea of the paragon of (in this case literary) creativity - but when sampled next to the breathtaking Pagani Zonda of latter day theatrical virtue (magnum opii like Hawk {The Slayer}, Blade {II} & Raw Deal), then the true exposition of thespionic majesty must needs remain but a distant notion to the blisfully unaware.
Stephen J Cannel.
Anyone ever been to Tolethorpe Hall near Stamford to see Shakespear's stuff performed outdoors? A very agreeable evening 
The season has finished this year, but if Shakespear floats your boat, it's highly recommended.
www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk/
The season has finished this year, but if Shakespear floats your boat, it's highly recommended.
www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk/
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