On the topic of my new Shakespeare collection

[talkstowolves]

Well, I had a conversation with my dad the other day about Shakespeare and our respective opinions of the Bard. Dad pronounced that he couldn't ever really get into the plays and I reminded him that the plays were meant to be watched, not read (which is primarily what he tried to do a few decades ago). I finished up talking to him with a comment that we needed a new volume of collected works, as the two volume set my dad bought back in the seventies is falling apart.

I came home today and found a gift on the kitchen table: a nice big capable-of-bashing-your-brains-in volume of Shakespeare's works. I whooped and my dad laughed at me, saying that Shakespeare's words hadn't changed since the '70s and teasing me about wanting a fresher copy.

I didn't care. I have a new pretty book with all of Shakespeare's works in.

So, in honor of my gift, I have decided to declare December Shakespeare-month-at-home. The task I shall set myself is to read several of his plays and watch movies made from them. I would include Theatre Nights at ASF, but I would want my lovely friends to come with me and not all of them get $10 student tickets. But it is a possibility.

My labors will include Hamlet, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and King Lear.

For Hamlet, I'll be viewing Kenneth Branagh's version, Lawrence Olivier's, and maybe even the one starring Mel Gibson.

For Othello, Branagh's is king.

For Much Ado About Nothing, again Branagh's.

For A Midsummer Night's Dream, I'll watch that movie that I think had Kevin Kline in.

And, for King Lear, I'm sure there's an American version I can watch, but I'm also including Kurosawa's Ran.

Please comment if you have any further ideas or want in on the watching fest. It'll happen over several different dates, of course, and I think it will all be grand fun.

Comments

[crowley.livejournal.com]

You HAVE to do this when I'm home for gift-mas break.

[cypressbound.livejournal.com]

I wanna go, I wanna go!!! *said with pouty enthusiasm*

[cypressbound.livejournal.com]

are you serious or are you just teasing me???

[void-dragon.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind sleeping through those myself ;) A most excellent idea, now what should it be called? Shakecember? Decemspeare? Blockbuster-thanks-you-for-the-multiple-movie-rentals-of-Playwright-while-its-cold-outside month? :)

King Lear

[mommiemilo.livejournal.com]

I've seen a version of King Lear that was alright. That was in Brit Lit I. Ran is an awesome interpretation, and I've got the pretty Kurosawa box set, but make sure you read the play first. The time we read it in Reeves' doesn't count.

[caelum.livejournal.com]

Oh, can I come? I am in need of great fun and would think it grand to see my friends all at once.

Re:

[caelum.livejournal.com]

Sweet. I look forward to it.