Shakespearean Summer '08

[Charles Darnay]

Macbeth is a great play. I voted against it only because I'm tired of tragedy. I've been reading a book of Euripedes plays, and I'm beginning to get bored with every character exclaiming "Oh Zeus! Oh Earth! Oh Light! How miserable am I!" Maybe these outbursts are powerful the first or second time, but after the third play one starts to yawn at all this wailing. Something more controlled and more comic would be welcome.

I can sympathize! Last year I had a long run with the three Classical tragedians (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides) and by the time I got to Aeschylus' "The Persians", with its plethora of the word "woe" - one of the lines is actually "woe to the woeful who begets more woe" - I knew it was time for some comedy

[Quark]

one of the lines is actually "woe to the woeful who begets more woe" - I knew it was time for some comedy

The Greeks must not have had a word for over-the-top.

I'm looking forward to Winter's Tale, though. The first couple of pages of dialogue seemed a little slow, but the beginning is never the best part. After the character introductions things should speed up.

[DapperDrake]

Macbeth is a great play. I voted against it only because I'm tired of tragedy. I've been reading a book of Euripedes plays, and I'm beginning to get bored with every character exclaiming "Oh Zeus! Oh Earth! Oh Light! How miserable am I!" Maybe these outbursts are powerful the first or second time, but after the third play one starts to yawn at all this wailing. Something more controlled and more comic would be welcome.

Yeah I can understand that too, last year and this year I've been dipping into Euripides and Sophocles myself. I definitely prefer Sophocles so far though I started to get a bit bored when I got to Electra, its pretty formulaic stuff after a fashion.

Anyway Macbeth is a much richer experience, I'm sure it would be refreshing after Greek tradegy.

[Janine]

I don't know if we will encounter a pure comedy here in "A Winter's Tale", if you go to Wikipedia and read up about it, many call it a 'tragicomedy'; it is really not so comical until the last part of the play. Many of Shakespeare's supposed 'comedies' have some very serious and deep parts in them. I listened to this play and found some parts quite shocking actually in this play, but they are certainly interesting. Some seemed almost 'Dickens-like' in their quirpy characters. I think it definitely would be an intriguing play to discuss and one most people would not be familar with. "Macbeth" is a great play, but oh so depressing. It is nice to have a change of pace, once in awhile. Just don't expect to be holding your sides in laughter, with "A Winter's Tale"; at least that is my own opinion. Still I hope it wins and turns out to be a good discussion.

[kilted exile]

Wont be joining in with all of these, but I am a fan of his histories so will definitely be taking advantage of getting some more insight into them - despite the fact that I will do a lot more lurking than posting....


My vote went to King John, somewhat of a favourite of mine & also one that doesnt seem to be one of his most widely read/performed plays currently

[aeroport]

I voted for Macbeth, but I haven't read Winter's Tale yet, so that would be kind of cool to do as well...

[Charles Darnay]

I don't know if we will encounter a pure comedy here in "A Winter's Tale", if you go to Wikipedia and read up about it, many call it a 'tragicomedy'; it is really not so comical until the last part of the play. Many of Shakespeare's supposed 'comedies' have some very serious and deep parts in them. I listened to this play and found some parts quite shocking actually in this play, but they are certainly interesting. Some seemed almost 'Dickens-like' in their quirpy characters. I think it definitely would be an intriguing play to discuss and one most people would not be familar with. "Macbeth" is a great play, but oh so depressing. It is nice to have a change of pace, once in awhile. Just don't expect to be holding your sides in laughter, with "A Winter's Tale"; at least that is my own opinion. Still I hope it wins and turns out to be a good discussion.

I find even the "tragic" part to be comical in "The Winter's Tale" with the hyperbolic absurdities.

Kited Exile: I took hope to explore some of his histories this summer. I have only read "1 Henry IV", "Richard III" and "Henry V" - I hope to read King John and Richard II because I have heard good things about those two.

[Virgil]

I've never read King John. I'm hoping to use this thread to fill in all the plays I've missed. Richard II is excellent by the way. I prefer it over Richard III. Both Henry IV plays are very good, but my favorite is Henry V.

[Janine]

I've never read King John. I'm hoping to use this thread to fill in all the plays I've missed. Richard II is excellent by the way. I prefer it over Richard III. Both Henry IV plays are very good, but my favorite is Henry V.

Virgil, you like the noble Richard II and I like the devious Richard III; how funny...and you are always the Mad, Bad and Dangerous one. My favorite of all the histories though, is Henry V. I did enjoy the second part of Henry IV, because it concentrates on young Prince Hal and leads us into Henry V; plus to have the added character of Falstaff is the plus there and who can beat him? It is best to read all the histories in order I think. I did that - most notable to me was Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, and Richard III. Those four interested me the most, although I did read them all I believe.

I find even the "tragic" part to be comical in "The Winter's Tale" with the hyperbolic absurdities.

That is true; there are a lot of hyperbolic absurdities in "The Winter's Tale". Maybe it is kind of a black comedy at times!

Kited Exile: I took hope to explore some of his histories this summer. I have only read "1 Henry IV", "Richard III" and "Henry V" - I hope to read King John and Richard II because I have heard good things about those two.

From what I recall, I think I least liked "King John" of all the histories; but, I honestly can't remember why that is. Maybe, I thought it was a little dull compared to the others.

[Scheherazade]

Last couple of days to vote!

[Janine]

Two days left, right? I keep checking in, but seems this poll has gone on forever - probably just feels that way, since I am anxious to see which it will be.

[sofia82]

I hope in these two days, no shocking change happens

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Nightshade]

so when do we start then?