Tlingit Shakespeare

[xoxoxoBruce]

I'm really frustrated with this thread. I don't understand what you are on about, Bruce, frankly.

Oh, sounds like a personal problem. Maybe you were mistaken about that....Just like you're mistaken about the thread.

If you don't understand the value of Shakespeare, why do you care?

So your one of the, it's wonderful, it must be 'cause everybody says so. I can't tell you why, because I don't know, but I know its wonderful, crowd. OK, your off the hook, maybe somebody else knows.

And I just flat out disagree that it stops being Shakespeare, or meaningful, if it is reinterpreted, no matter how outre.

I'm sure you do. Since you don't know why it's good, you certainly wouldn't know when it isn't. Do you have a bumper sticker that says, "A bad play of Shakespeare is better than a good day at work"?

Furthermore, you might as well get over your distaste (or whatever it is), because he will continue to be reinterpreted, forever, if humanity is lucky.

I suppose they will, but I'm not stupid enough to say it was wonderful when some of them fuck it up. Humanity? Good grief.

No one is making you see the thing, after all.

Yes they are, the same ones that forced you come back and defend Willie's honor.

I was actually disappointed when I found out my trip to DC was not going to intersect with its run.

Yes, that's a shame, but I assure you, that's not my fault either.

I also really, LOATHE arguing for argument's sake, although I know a lot of people get into it. I was hoping this thread would die so I wouldn't feel the need to post again in it.

It's such a tragedy it didn't end, so you wouldn't be assaulted by those arm twisters. But if you had shed some light instead of just creating heat, it might have been.

Now where did I say I disliked Shakespeare? Hmmm I can't find it, can you?
The discussion was not whether Willie wrote nice plays, nobody was saying he didn't. The question was, and still is, how much reimagining can you do before it's not Shakespeare any more, because we don't agree on that.

This is why I wanted to reach some sort of consensus of what makes Shakespeare unique. I gave my deductions on what the core values are, that makes Shakespeare special, but you would rather shrill......heretic..... blasphemy, than contribute to rational discussion. pity.

[Aliantha]

Bruce, if people didn't see the value in reinterpreting other people's work, there'd never be any cover bands. There'd never be ballets like swan lake for example. Imagine if every opera you ever saw was a new one and not ever a classic from one of the masters.

People enjoy classic anything and so there will always be rebirths of classics. Sometimes in their original form, and sometimes with a new twist...just for originality.

That's it for me on this one.

[cowhead]

personally I love the double entandres and general twists of phrase, the beautiful flow of words. there in lies alot of the problem with 're-imagining' it. it lacks the lyrical quality and depth of the original, like a highschool choir covering queen... yeah it can be done.. and to some degree I think it ought to be tried to inspire and challenge the artists involved.. but should it be done in public? perhaps not. the themes presented in willies works are universal to all humanity and cultures, which is why the persevere and hopefully will continue to do so.

loves me some willie s.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by cowhead

personally I love the double entandres and general twists of phrase, the beautiful flow of words. there in lies alot of the problem with 're-imagining' it. it lacks the lyrical quality and depth of the original, like a highschool choir covering queen... yeah it can be done.. and to some degree I think it ought to be tried to inspire and challenge the artists involved.. but should it be done in public? perhaps not. the themes presented in willies works are universal to all humanity and cultures, which is why the persevere and hopefully will continue to do so.

loves me some willie s.

That's what I thought, the unique language and word play defines Shakespeare more than the plot lines. That may be because the plot lines have been done so many ways, in so many mediums, they aren't unique to Willie's plays any more.

But then I'm told all that can change and still be Shakespeare. That's why I was trying to break down what makes Shakespeare, Shakespeare. But no help there, just nay sayers. I'm waiting for HM to tell us what the Tlingit show was like.

[Happy Monkey]

Here'a another reimagining of Shakespeare.

[DanaC]

HM, I just followed the link on your sig. The Crayon eating cartoon...That's fucking funny man.

[DanaC]

Check that....I just followed the rest of your link. Good stuff HM. Fight the good fight.

[Sundae]

Do you ever want to sing, "HAPPY Monk-eh to yah, HAPPY Monk-eh to yah" in the style of Stevie Wonder....?

Or is it just me?

(btw I know it was sung about Martin Luther King but Wonder made it a pop song, not me)

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by DanaC

HM, I just followed the link on your sig. The Crayon eating cartoon...That's fucking funny man.

Heh, yeah. Bob kicks ass. I've had that one for a while, though. May be time to put in a new one.

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Do you ever want to sing, "HAPPY Monk-eh to yah, HAPPY Monk-eh to yah" in the style of Stevie Wonder....?

Or is it just me?

It hadn't occurred... Perhaps it will now...

[wolf]

Shakespeare

reimagined

[DanaC]

LoL

[Happy Monkey]

I fully support their right to sing and dance Shakespeare, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna get off my ass.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Aw c'mon, just a short video....oh, with sound, please.

Rumor has it, you might not be able to get a ticket, so be prepared to gate crash, ok?

If it's a hit, maybe they'll tour.

[Ishmael]

I'm actually an actor in Macbeth, I play Malcolm. We've had good responses, not a great review but with the Washington Post I hear a not great review is excellent.

I'm thinking there are a couple things that interest me: 1) I'm surprised and a little excited that people even care enough to offer a few passing thoughts. 2) I'm curious how people have thoughts on something they presumably won't see or haven't seen, or don't know the contexts. Is that how most of these blogs go? Opinions but without context or experience?

I can agree mostly with disappointment at Shakespeare being "reimagined" for its own sake. I hate Shakespeare in a Nazi camp or on the moon just because that's what a director wanted to do. That's why I didn't really like Ian McKellen's Richard III. But I LOVED Kurasawa's Throne of Blood. It depends on what you do with it, I suppose.

But, clearly, there are opinions on this thing without folks actually having a chance to see it for themselves. I'd love it for folks to see it and gain their own perspectives. Otherwise, what's the point of even a passing thought on the thing? The energy it takes to type on a keyboard and post a blog? To take time out of the day to read other people's thoughts on something they haven't seen? To form an opinion on something that is imagined, self-constructed? If you hate it, why not hate it for what it is, or love it for what it is.

It's been great to be a part of this play, for me, personally. Generally, the audiences have been great, and the cast has been a great group. I'm excited that we are sparking some debate, striking some cord. Thanks.

Ishmael

[Cloud]

Originally Posted by Ishmael

I'm actually an actor in Macbeth, I play Malcolm. We've had good responses, not a great review but with the Washington Post I hear a not great review is excellent.

Congratulations, and thanks for visiting here.

I'm thinking there are a couple things that interest me: 1) I'm surprised and a little excited that people even care enough to offer a few passing thoughts.

Me too. Got myself into quite a lot of trouble over it, too. Yes, real people still read Shakespeare and attend the plays, and care enough to argue passionately about it.

I'm curious how people have thoughts on something they presumably won't see or haven't seen, or don't know the contexts. Is that how most of these blogs go? Opinions but without context or experience?

Yep. That's pretty much how it is. In Real Life, too.