In our second summer "mini-sode," Jess talks us through Thomas Middleton's wacky play, The Witch.
Spanish Tragedy 101
In our very first non-Shakespeare episode featuring Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, we break a few traditions and create some new ones. Our Rhetorical Device of the Week is aposiopesis; we introduce a new feature for non-Shakes episodes called "Meet the Contemporary" in which we tell you whatever facts are available about the playwright; we also introduce a new game, purely inspired by the not-so-friendly, Mean-Girls-esuqe rivalry between Thomas Kyd and Christopher Marlowe; and our ShakesBubble Gossip features a review of OSF's production of Henry V and Cheek By Jowl's french-speaking production of Pericles. What a way to end Season One! See you in August, wordnerds!
Some articles and resources we mentioned in today's episode:
Pericles 101
This week we learn that Pericles is the most bonkers play in the canon, with not one but two shipwrecks and six - SIX! - different worlds in which it takes place. Confused yet? In Pericles 101, the Rhetorical Device of the Week is hendiadys; the Burbage Break is all about the shipwreck trope in early modern plays; Aubrey plays a round of "Aubrey Fails at Shakespeare;" and in our Tips & Tidbits we discuss exactly how complicated and fun this play can be. In our ShakesBubble Gossip, Jess gives us the "short version" of her current projects and we follow up on a relevant MLitt thesis project.
Twelfth Night 201
This week for the next in our 201 series, we go narrow and deep into some unanswered (perhaps unanswerable?) questions lingering around Twelfth Night. The Rhetorical Redux is about the use of accumulatio in the play; Jess ponders pants roles and hiding in plain sight; Aubrey asks WTF the title has to do with the play at all. We also provide a list of Twelfth Night productions* on their way to you this year (that is, if you live in the US, UK, or Canada).
Productions Near You:
Indian adaptation of 12N! https://scroll.in/reel/874788/vishal-bhardwaj-to-adapt-shakespeares-comedy-twelfth-night
Directed by Brendan O’Hea. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, 7 – 8 May, 10 May and 6 September (020 7401 9919); Chilham Castle, Kent, 26 May (matinee only). Part of the Voter’s Choice tour. www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on-2018/twelfth-night [P]
The Chameleons Amateur Dramatic Society. Compass Theatre, London, 24 – 26 May (01895 673 200) www.hillingdontheatres.uk/index.php/events/twelfth-night/ [A]
Bristol Old Vic and Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. Directed by Wils Wilson, Bristol Old Vic, Bristol, 17 October – 10 November (0117 987 7877) www.bristololdvic.org.uk/index.php?id=1723 [P]
National Theatre Live, in cinemas (click here to find local cinemas, dates, and time)
Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery, Alabama, April 20–May 6, 2018
Theatre for a New Audience, Brooklyn, New York, May 10–27, 2018
Seattle Shakespeare Company, Seattle, Washington, to May 31, 2018 [tour]
Trinity Shakespeare Festival, Fort Worth, Texas, June 19–July 8, 2018
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, June 21–July 15, 2018
Cleveland Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland, Ohio, July 20–August 5, 2018
Theater at Monmouth, Monmouth, Maine, July 5–August 19, 2018
The Public Theater, New York, New York,July 17–August 19, 2018 [Free Shakespeare in the Park]
Shakespeare's Globe, London, England, May 7–September 6, 2018 [Including tour]
The EmilyAnn Theatre & Gardens, Wimberley, Texas, August 31–September 23, 2018
Merchant of Venice 101
We don't like The Merchant of Venice very much, which is why we invited Super Special Guest Host Patrick Aaron Harris on the pod this week to help us out for our Merchant 101 episode. The Rhetorical Device of the Week is epizeuxis (aka Jess's favorite device); the Burbage Break, curated this week by Master Master Harris, is about the many different kinds of Shakespeare adaptations; in our Tips & Tidbits feature Patrick delineates the textual confusion about "the Sallies" and has some recommendations for how to treat this play more like a romantic comedy and less like an anti-semitic tragi-comedy (pro tip: it all boils down to the RINGS). We play a round of Line Roulette with Patrick as our game of the week, and we have LOTS to say about SAA's #ShakeAss controversy in our ShakesBubble Gossip. Thank you again and again to our guest host, Patrick Aaron Harris!!