**thieves are bad**
Hamlet
Makes more sense with Hamlet being female (aka has more feminine mindset)
Julius Caesar genderbent = Lysistrata?
Contrast of make war not love versus make love not war
Male versus female perspective?
Timon of Athens = Shopaholic
Modern audience can't handle bad economic ending
MacBeth is about silence?
"Sound and fury signifying nothing"
Romeo & Juliet
Love before honor?
Compare to MacBeth?
Portia ~ Julius Caesar
Ophelia Syndrome?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Living
Working on "Our Town" has lead to me doing quite a bit of thinking about... life in general. At one point Emily, the somewhat annoying main female, asks if people ever really live every single moment of their lives. The Stage Manager tells her that the saints and poets might occasionally, but that no one really does. Isn't that an interesting thought?
Have you ever just spent a day, or even an hour, watching the people around you? It's amazing how much time we spend looking without really seeing. I mean, I've seen friends pass each other on the sidewalk without so much as a "hey, how's it going?" slipping past their lips. Most of the time they did not even notice their friend because they were just... too busy.
Recently, with my life being chaotic I haven't given life the value that I should. I've taken it for granted that I was going to wake up the next day, and that I would have time to do the important things that I always seem to be putting off. But do I really have time? I mean, life is just such a fragile thing that it could be gone before I know it. That's why I've resolved to, even if it is in a boring and easy-going way, enjoy each day as much as possible. I'm going to try to not nitpick about things that are out of my control, and I'm going to try to say only the best of things. After all, did not a wise, loppy-eared sage once say that "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all"? Ah, the golden things in the world.
But here's my challenge to you: live. See the world around you, take time to smile, enjoy the fall leaves (if you have them), and really see the people around you. Don't get so busy searching for tomorrow that you loose today.
Have you ever just spent a day, or even an hour, watching the people around you? It's amazing how much time we spend looking without really seeing. I mean, I've seen friends pass each other on the sidewalk without so much as a "hey, how's it going?" slipping past their lips. Most of the time they did not even notice their friend because they were just... too busy.
Recently, with my life being chaotic I haven't given life the value that I should. I've taken it for granted that I was going to wake up the next day, and that I would have time to do the important things that I always seem to be putting off. But do I really have time? I mean, life is just such a fragile thing that it could be gone before I know it. That's why I've resolved to, even if it is in a boring and easy-going way, enjoy each day as much as possible. I'm going to try to not nitpick about things that are out of my control, and I'm going to try to say only the best of things. After all, did not a wise, loppy-eared sage once say that "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all"? Ah, the golden things in the world.
But here's my challenge to you: live. See the world around you, take time to smile, enjoy the fall leaves (if you have them), and really see the people around you. Don't get so busy searching for tomorrow that you loose today.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Busy busy busy
Well, life is certainly keeping me on my toes. Between Shakespeare Acting Styles, Shakespeare in English, Directing I, and "Our Town" I can't seem to find a spare minute to take a breath. Just this week alone I get to write a paper for my midterms and get to work directing my final play and doing rehearsals.
But, it's tons of fun! I forgot how enjoyable doing a play is, and I think "Our Town" is going to do fantastically. Christine Frezza, the director, has given it a twist that has made it a lot less grim and far more enjoyable (at least for me). My character, Mrs. Soames, even got an upgrade, and she's far more interesting than just your average busybody. If you're interested in seeing it, we open on November 5th at the SUU auditorium. We run that weekend, and then Thurs-Sun of the next week. Means I get to turn 21 while doing the play, which should be... interesting.
As for my paper... Well, I'm not certain what I'm going to write it on. I was tempted to do the importance of language in understanding Shakespeare, but I don't think making my professor angry would be a very good idea.
My play should go well. After I've met with my actors I will give you more information as far as that goes, but it'll be an experience!
Anyway, I should run off and work on all the things I've got to do. Loves to you all!
But, it's tons of fun! I forgot how enjoyable doing a play is, and I think "Our Town" is going to do fantastically. Christine Frezza, the director, has given it a twist that has made it a lot less grim and far more enjoyable (at least for me). My character, Mrs. Soames, even got an upgrade, and she's far more interesting than just your average busybody. If you're interested in seeing it, we open on November 5th at the SUU auditorium. We run that weekend, and then Thurs-Sun of the next week. Means I get to turn 21 while doing the play, which should be... interesting.
As for my paper... Well, I'm not certain what I'm going to write it on. I was tempted to do the importance of language in understanding Shakespeare, but I don't think making my professor angry would be a very good idea.
My play should go well. After I've met with my actors I will give you more information as far as that goes, but it'll be an experience!
Anyway, I should run off and work on all the things I've got to do. Loves to you all!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Shakespeare Divided
So I've come to a conclusion: people don't understand Shakespeare.
Oh, I know a lot of people say that they don't understand Shakespeare, but I think the problem is a lot wider spread than anyone has realized. How did I come to this conclusion? Well, as a Shakespeare major I have to take all kinds of interesting Shakespearean classes from both the English and Theatre departments here at SUU. In the course of this, though, I've realized that many of the people I work with believe that the Bard belongs either to just the English department or just the Theatre department. How screwed up is that?
My favorite part of my major is how integrated the two aspects of Shakespeare have become. In one class I read certain plays, talk about them, and write papers on them. In the other I perform and watch Shakespeare. To me, the line between the two sides has become blurred almost past recognition, and it frustrates me that no one else seems to see how silly it is to have them parted.
Since I got yelled at today by one of my professors about my ideas of integration, I'm simply not going to bother with trying to help SUU make the Bard whole again. They can turn out English majors who know nothing about how to speak Shakespeare for all I care. When I'm a professor, though, I intend to teach a class about Shakespeare. Not Shakespeare from an English perspective, not Shakespeare from a Theatre perspective.
Just Shakespeare.
Oh, I know a lot of people say that they don't understand Shakespeare, but I think the problem is a lot wider spread than anyone has realized. How did I come to this conclusion? Well, as a Shakespeare major I have to take all kinds of interesting Shakespearean classes from both the English and Theatre departments here at SUU. In the course of this, though, I've realized that many of the people I work with believe that the Bard belongs either to just the English department or just the Theatre department. How screwed up is that?
My favorite part of my major is how integrated the two aspects of Shakespeare have become. In one class I read certain plays, talk about them, and write papers on them. In the other I perform and watch Shakespeare. To me, the line between the two sides has become blurred almost past recognition, and it frustrates me that no one else seems to see how silly it is to have them parted.
Since I got yelled at today by one of my professors about my ideas of integration, I'm simply not going to bother with trying to help SUU make the Bard whole again. They can turn out English majors who know nothing about how to speak Shakespeare for all I care. When I'm a professor, though, I intend to teach a class about Shakespeare. Not Shakespeare from an English perspective, not Shakespeare from a Theatre perspective.
Just Shakespeare.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)