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The Original Shakespeare Blog | Shakespeare Geek
In 2005 I couldn't find a Shakespeare blog, so I made one. Welcome to the oldest Shakespeare blog in the world.
In 2005 I couldn't find a Shakespeare blog, so I made one. Welcome to the oldest Shakespeare blog in the world.
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I’m going to say something up front because I had it said to me (well, I read it), and it helped me enjoy the movie “Sing Sing“. This is a true prison story. But there are no riots, no escapes, no makeshift shivs sticking anybody in the back. It’s not that kind of story. That’s … Continue reading Review: Sing Sing
4.3.2025 14:54Review: Sing SingFor Christmas this year, the geeklets all got together and sent us to Broadway to see Romeo and Juliet, starring Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor! Of course, being the wrong generation, we don’t have any context for who these two young actors are, but it’s Shakespeare on Broadway; that’s all that matters to me. I … Continue reading Review: Kit Connor Rachel Zegler Romeo and Juliet
13.2.2025 13:39Review: Kit Connor Rachel Zegler Romeo and JulietLike the Athenians, does Titania also get to come away from the story thinking this was all a dream?
3.2.2025 17:31Titania’s POV?In reply to <a href="https://www.shakespearegeek.com/2022/02/introducing-bardle-a-shakespeare-letter-game.html/#comment-104171">Mark Satterthwaite</a>. Hi Mark -- Sounds like you're not playing my version of the game (the original), which lives at https://shakespearegeek.github.io/bardle. Others have since stolen the name. My version of the game, like the original Wordle, only uses 5 letter words so BEATRICE was never an option. https://shakespearegeek.github.io/bardle/
3.2.2025 15:21Comment on Introducing Bardle – A Shakespeare Letter Game by duaneToday I entered BEATRICE at line 4 and was informed that the B was not in the word even though EATRICE were already all accepted as correct. Knowing that Beatrice is a character in Much Ado, I played it again and again, each time having it rejected. Then, the Oh, No sign came up and informed me that today’s Bardle is BEATRICE. This is great game but a really disappointing introduction to it. What’s wrong here?
2.2.2025 14:50Comment on Introducing Bardle – A Shakespeare Letter Game by Mark SatterthwaiteYou just explained why I've watched this production MANY times, even tho' some things kind'a creep me out. I still like it. Truth, I enjoy all the performances I've seen, in different ways. The Globe 2014 production - Pearce Quigley is my 'Lieblingsschauspieler' cracks me up. Yeah, he's playing himself but who cares. Emma Rice 2016 production live stream - mix some Bollywood into life and I'm all in. Just remembering all this makes me smile. THANKS.
31.1.2025 16:26Comment on Review: 1935 Midsummer by Jane NearingLet's make one assumption: Ghost of Hamlet's father could be the disguised guard Francisco (Hamlet, after a meeting with his father's Shadow, said that the look of the Ghost was `questionable`). In the opening scene, Francisco leaves his post, and soon a Ghost appears in front of the sentries; all other nocturnal appearances of a representative of the afterlife also occur when Francisco is not on duty. In this case, Francisco's somewhat strange remarks become more understandable: Bernardo, who came to replace him, asked: `Have you had quietguard?` To which the answer followed: `Not a mouse stirring`. And before that, Francisco said about the heaviness on the heart (I sick at heart), but did not explain the reason. The words about the mouse at one time angered Voltaire, who considered such a "low" detail not in keeping with the spirit of the tragedy. We can say that Voltaire felt a certain stylistic roughness in these words, and Shakespeare often has it as a sign that something important is hidden here. Our version: in this way, the playwright wanted to make it clear that there was some kind of mystery connected with Francisco. It is likely that some loyal to the king Hamlet people knew about the murder of him, and Francisco was one of them (Marcellus did not accidentally call him `honest soldier`). The ghost seems to appear once again during Hamlet's conversation with his mother, and only the prince saw him. We believe that Hamlet had a hallucination— as the queen said, `it's all just an inflamed brain` (this is very coinage of your brain). If our hypothesis is correct, then there is no mysticism in the tragedy – "feudal realism". From my article: (PDF) Hamlet. Changing of the Guard. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360031910_Hamlet_Changing_of_the_Guard [accessed Jan 31 2025].
31.1.2025 15:55Comment on Somebody Produce This by LevFrancisco appears in the first scene of Shakespeare's Hamlet, delivers his eight lines, and is never seen again. Let's follow him.
31.1.2025 12:57Somebody Produce ThisYeah, too often Shakespeare is just a vehicle for directors attempting to make a name for themselves. It's as though the name Shakespeare is too big for them and they'd like to take it down a peg while elevating "someone" else-guess who. I'm no Freud-nor would I want to be-but it seems like the mere association with a giant brings out the ego.The names Taymor and Luhrman immediately come to mind. Way back when, Joseph Papp's NY Shakespeare Festival seemed to have that effect on its guest directors. Weird and wacky was the order of the day.
30.1.2025 22:44Comment on Review: Denzel Washington as Macbeth by JMAgree with Abel. This is decidedly not Actors' Studio method stuff. Nothing is more boring than a brooding, musing, angsty Hamlet internalizing an audience to sleep. For example, it's very likely that 'To be or not to be' was directly shared with the groundlings at the Globe. If one is made to be "uncomfortable" by direct address, then at least they've been touched by a performance. In my opinion, it was never intended to be solely directed at a particular person for an entire monologue or soliloquy anyway. That's overkill and sure to make someone uncomfortable. It's an all-inclusive process. Shakespeare wasn't intended for the proscenium picture stage or the movie screen. It can be done there, but some efforts to include the audience should be undertaken if authenticity of technique, style, and mood are to be preserved. Audience inclusion in soliloquy and aside is integral to Shakespeare performance. The opportunity for full appreciation of Shakespeare's universality is otherwise undermined to a degree.
30.1.2025 18:15Comment on Why Do I Hate This David Tennant As Macbeth Video? by JMThese are so few and far between now that they’re older, I must post them when they appear! My daughter was convinced to stage manage her college theatre production because she would share the duty with a friend as co-managers. As the weeks of rehearsal went by, we didn’t hear much about the co. As … Continue reading A Well-Timed College Geeklet Story
30.1.2025 03:33A Well-Timed College Geeklet StoryI'm sorry I slept on the 1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream this long. I still have no idea what I watched but I enjoyed it.
27.1.2025 18:26Review: 1935 MidsummerRichard III is the one when it comes to breaking the fourth wall. It's used very well in all four screen versions I've seen (starring Benedict Cumberbatch; Ian McEwan; Ron Cooke; and Lawrence Oliver) because it invites us to be complicit in the fun of Richard's ascent to power. We have to choose at which stage we jump the train. He charms us with his confidence, makes us laugh, and then, suddenly, we are accessories to a monster. Without it, any sense of tragedy is lost. It literally becomes just desserts for an evil man, which is why I found The Globe's recent production disappointing: https://www.upstarttuition.com/post/tl-dr-bad-man-does-bad-stuff-comes-to-bad-end
24.1.2025 15:54Comment on Why Do I Hate This David Tennant As Macbeth Video? by Abel GuerreroBonkers! I'm ready to send my bank account details!
24.1.2025 15:43Comment on Macbeth Videogame? TAKE MY MONEY by Abel GuerreroOk I was excited at a chance to see some footage of David Tennant’s Macbeth (coming soon to a theatre probably not near you). If you’ve never seen Mr. Tennant play the villain, go check out his turn in Marvel’s Jessica Jones series. That recognizable accent that can so readily make ’em all swoon can … Continue reading Why Do I Hate This David Tennant As Macbeth Video?
24.1.2025 15:26Why Do I Hate This David Tennant As Macbeth Video?https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/rsc-announces-new-video-game-inspired-by-macbeth_1661745 Ok, this is the kind of story that makes me want to blog again. The actual RSC – you know, the Royal Shakespeare Company – is getting behind a Shakespeare videogame project based on Macbeth. There have been a lot of Shakespeare video games strewn throughout our history: point-and-click adventures, space shooters, and massive … Continue reading Macbeth Videogame? TAKE MY MONEY
23.1.2025 21:25Macbeth Videogame? TAKE MY MONEYIn reply to <a href="https://www.shakespearegeek.com/2025/01/beta-testers-wanted.html/#comment-102562">Joi Cardinal</a>. >not sure how this adds value to just googling Well, sure, but what happens when you google? Google shows you web pages that have the answers you want. Some of those web pages might as well be hosted by me. >but what do i know, my domain isa mess until i can figure workspace Can't help you there!
18.1.2025 16:32Comment on BETA Testers Wanted by duanenot sure how this adds value to just googling but what do i know, my domain isa mess until i can figure workspace
18.1.2025 07:17Comment on BETA Testers Wanted by Joi CardinalIf I had the time, energy and resources, I would fill all my spare time using technology to make interesting Shakespeare things.
16.1.2025 17:52BETA Testers WantedI suppose the official title of this production is “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, directed by Joel Coen and starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in the title roles, but that’s too much to fit in a title. You all no doubt know which production I’m referring to. Though it came out in 2021, I’ve finally … Continue reading Review: Denzel Washington as Macbeth
14.1.2025 15:25Review: Denzel Washington as Macbeth