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Theatre Review: Medieval literature brought up to date THE CANTERBURY TALES PARTS ONE AND TWO RSC, Stratford VERDICT: HHHHI

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From: Birmingham Mail
Date: 20051216
Author:DIANE PARKES

I have to admit it - I fell for the joke. Mark Hadfield walks centre stage dressed as Geoffrey Chaucer and begins his prologue - in Olde English. My heart sinks as hours of battling through Medieval literature return to haunt me. Have I really agreed to spend six hours listening to this?

But it is a ruse. Within minutes, the remaining pilgrims burst onto the stage in a whirlwind of exuberance - and the language changes to a modern and snappy translation.

This witty beginning is symptomatic of a show which is more than prepared to laugh at itself, at the audience and at many of Chaucer's ...

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  • Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: Suggestions For Further Reading And Research
  • Providence and incest reconsidered: Chaucer's poetic judgement of his Man of Law. (Geoffrey Chaucer)
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  • Chaucer's The Complaint of Mars. (analysis of a Geoffrey Chaucer poem)
  • Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: Chaucer Takes His Leave
  • Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: The Miller's Tale
  • Works of Geoffrey Chaucer: Sir Thopas
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