Shakespeare poll

[vaneramos]

Checking the Stratford Festival's [Poll #488984]I want to see Hello Dolly myself, but wouldn't dare inflict that on Marian.

("Why are they singing? Make them stop singing!")

Comments

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Haha, you must forgive her for not (quite) being a gay boy!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oh, no mistake, musicals are the highest form of theatre. But I try to bring up my children right: Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan, Oliver, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof. But look what they ask for: Shakespeare!

[detailbear.livejournal.com]

I said As You Like It. I think it might be more accessible.

I, on the other hand, would love to see Hello Dolly.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Marian is inclined toward the dark and convoluted, that's why I'm not convinced As You Like It is the best choice. We might have to arrange more than one trip to Stratford this summer.

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

I'd vote for The Tempest, mainly because *I* like it better.

Though passing up a Shakespearean play with BNL music would be a true shame...

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

We could consider taking in a play when you're here....

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

Ooo....that is certainly a possibility.

As long as you introduce me to the Eramosa (and, of course, I get to spend time with you), all else is gravy. :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Honey, if you're up for hiking, I'll show you parts of the river even I've never seen before. Now should I pack gravy for the picnic, or just keep it simple?

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Definitely keep it simple...we'll have enough other stuff to focus on without having to lay out an elaborate feast. ;)

And I'm pretty sure I'll be up for hiking...it tends to set my hyper gears in motion....

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

I doubt you can go wrong choosing either of those, but The Tempest has the potential to be considerably darker, more bittersweet or melancholy, more goth. I'm thinking that Marian, in particular, might enjoy that.

While it is considered a "comedy" in general terms, by virtue of not being a tragedy and because at least one heterosexual romantic coupling is established (which is the traditional definition of a comedy, by the by, at least when discussing the Elizabethans: a play that results in marriage), most critics agree that the four last "comedies" in Shakespeare's canon form a particularly mature, complex, and indeed dark set of works, shot through with more ruminations on mortality and loss than even some of the great comedies of the middle part of his career.

I'd go further, depending on the amount of time you and Marian and Brenna have available: I'd buy or borrow a "Cliffs Notes" or other general outline of the play and read through it together, then read the play as a whole, perhaps out loud. Shakespeare's language is rich enough, and just different enough from modern Canadian English, that it can be helpful to have experienced it once already before adding the extra dimentions added by talented actors, costumes, lighting, etc.

What fun! My folks used to talk the whole family down to the Shakespeare productions in Central Park in New York whenever we could manage it, and even bright children who miss a lot of the nuances will tend to be entertained by a good production. Give them an idea or two of what to expect, and it could be a really rewarding experience.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Funny, I forgot until you mentioned the park just now. Last summer Danny, Monique and I took the girls to see a small theatre company perform Dream in a Toronto park and they both loved it. I actually posted about it; must dig back and revive that memory.

It would be ideal if I could find a dramatized recording to play in the car during our summer travels. I have a feeling The Tempest is the best choice for Marian, too. And the fantastic aspects would appeal to both of them.

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Getting back to the question of the plays (since I'm not getting anywhere near that hot ass of yours anytime in the foreseeable future *pout*),
I was going to suggest that Marian might enjoy The Tempest more, and Brenna As You Like It. So I'm not sure what to suggest. I vastly prefer the Tempest as a play, but the production of AYLI and the music with BNL would hook me into wanting to see that, as well.

I sort of feel Tempest is an honorary Tragedy because of its thematic complexity. You have to love the fact that he includes a Pagan ritual as part of the play, too.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Plays, what.....oh, yes!

That's a very insightful comment about Marian and Brenna, and I tend to agree with you. I'm beginning to feel I want to see both of them this summer, I didn't make that a choice on the poll. Who wouldn't want both?

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

To heck with the poll....

I'm all about that icon!!!!

HUGZ

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

The one with the girls or the, um, naughty one?

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

the one with the girls.....

i'll check out the naughty in person!!GGGGGRRRR

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, isn't that a hilarious shot of the three of us? It came from one of a series I took on our long weekend in May two years ago, unfortunately the images are no longer online and I would have to dig through old discs to find them again. Man, have they grown a lot since then.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Hmm, tough. I know which one I'd choose for myself -- the idea of As You Like It set in the "Summer on Love" repels me, but the girls might get a kick out of it. (So might you, for all I know.)

"Why are they singing? Make them stop singing!"

Marian would get along great with my father.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Seeing that we're currently at a tie, I'm probably going to give my own vote (like the chair of an undecided committee) to The Tempest. I imagine Marian would actually get a bigger kick out of it, although the gender-bender in As You Like it would also appeal to her.

[token-otter.livejournal.com]

I went with the Tempest because of William Hutt's last performance (you can't beat a great theatre actor) and the material being edgy. I do however lost As You Like It since I saw a production at the U of Regina a number of years back. I still read the last monolgue and get a little teary :). What I suggest is getting her to read both and even see film versions (classic ones though; Derek Jarman's version of The Tempest is wild and good, but a little too much gay boy stuff going on for younger eyes). :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

My favourite rendition of The Tempest was the CBC production with Michael Hordern, but I doubt I'd be able to get ahold of it now. Letting her read them is a great idea. Or if I could find a dramatized recording for us to listen to in the car, even better.

[nine-ah.livejournal.com]

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? I had to just tell you this one...ready? It was Dudely Do Right...yes the cartoon character...OMG can you stand it?

Hi! By the way, just passing through!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm not completely surprised. Although I never saw Dudley Do Right, I had crushes on several characters in Wacky Races.