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!

[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.

[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!

[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....

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

But how will you burn off that energy once it gets started?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oh never mind, I think I'll go for a nap now.

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can think of many, many, many, many ways to do that...

Many of them are even repeatable in polite company. ;)

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

That icon is the purest of evil teases...;)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Actually, I better hit the gym.

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

You and I both, brother...LOL

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I mean, I need to be in better shape for hiking.

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

LOL...well, hiking itself will help with that. I'm relatively sure I can hike with no problem, but I'd be bone-tired by the end of the day..which isn't a problem...

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

And here I thought I had the two of you focused exclusively on ME ME ME. Grump! :)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

(struggles slightly)

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

Well, you can CERTAINLY be included in any attentions....but be fair. You know how the poly thing works...sometimes ya just pair off and go do your own thing for a little while. ;)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Pete, you told me about Stephen. You have only yourself to blame. ;-)

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

*grinning widely* Oh, yes...that would be a GREAT way to work off energy, wouldn't it? ;)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I've been thinking about it for 10 months. So at the end of the day if you're bone-tired, you better keep some rope handy.

[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.

[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.