Our feelings about Tamburlaine “The Great” (ahem you mispronounced “The Worst”) are no secret, but we tell you his entire saga - parts 1 and 2! - in this episode anyway. Jess discusses the dramaturgical problems with an extremely unlikeable protagonist, and Aubrey lists the nearly innumerable moments of on-stage violence facing a production team crazy enough to put on this play. We gossip about a few productions you may have missed over the summer, among other things, and have some laughs along the way. Enjoy!
Measure for Measure 201
In this episode, we compare and discuss the good, the uncomfortable, and the absolutely terrible production choices perpetrated in a couple of different productions of Measure for Measure we witnessed over the summer. We also revisit the rhetorical device of acyrologia (aka malapropisms) used to charming effect with our buddy, Elbow. And, in a new installment of “How To Grad School” we share some thoughts on what first-gen grad-schoolers need to know in order to catch up with their second- or third-gen peers. If you or someone you know is in an upcoming production of Measure, let us know!
Much Ado About Nothing 201
Guess who’s back?! Ya girls are back with a vengeance - and new theme music! - to dive a little deeper into Much Ado About Nothing! We revisit the rhetorical device of anadiplosis (repetition of endings at the next beginning), and discuss the knotty mess of embodied truth and character backstories in Much Ado. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a proper episode if we didn’t rabbit-hole down a side topic or two. We’re happy to be back!
Love's Labor's Lost 101
It’s the last episode of Season 2 and also our Canon Completion Episode!!! The final Rhetorical Device of the Week is epatheton; the final Burbage Break is about the absent mother trope; we play a new game in honor of the end of the season and the canon called Yearbook Superlatives; we reveal the results of the SAA #DickBracket straw poll (spoilers: academics overthink stuff); finally, we give you a taste of what to look forward to in Season 3. See you in September!
Also here’s the link to that article we gushed about in our Gossip segment.
3 Henry VI 101
In our penultimate episode of Season 2, we check in on the third part of Henry VI, you know…just to see how he’s doing (hint: not great). The FINAL Rhetorical Device of the Week (EVER) is stichomythia; the Burbage Break is all about the amazing online resource, Digital Renaissance Editions; we briefly break down that family tree and summarize the play; we play a new hybrid game of “Jess Fails At Line Roulette” wherein Jess makes an incredible scholarly discovery (literally…in-credible…)! You’ll have to listen to find out what it is! #scatalogicalplays #yourewelcome
Here’s the resource Jess mentioned in the Burbage Break today: