201

201 Roulette!

201 Roulette!
Whamlet

SURPRISE! You thought you were getting a Love’s Labour’s episode but we had a last minute change of plans. Instead, we opted for something new, a way to get a bunch of plays into a 201-ish discussion without dedicating an episode to each individual one (because, tbh, we’re down to the dregs - mostly plays we just don’t wanna talk about anymore). So we invented 201 Roulette! Jess and Aubrey take turns drawing the names of plays out of a hat and extemporizing about those plays however they like. No spoilers, but you’ll definitely get a dose of what we love and hate, as well as who we would cast in dream productions of the titles we draw. Tell us what you think - if you like this format, we might do it again!

Here’s what we featured in our Happy Hour segment:

  • GoFundMe campaign for Tonga tsunami relief!

Here’s what we featured in our ShakesBubble Gossip segments:

  • meh…not a lot this week. The breaking news from last episode tapped us out!

Henriad 201

Henriad 201
Whamlet

This episode is a Hurly Burly first, both because we’re rolling 201 content for three plays - 1 & 2 Henry IV and Henry V - all into one episode, but also because we have a MAJOR SCOOP in ShakesBubble Gossip that you get to hear all about here first! The endlessly charming Brandon Carter joins us to talk about tackling the arc of the first Henriad as Prince Hal/King Henry, being the first (and maybe only?) African American to play the role in a series of connected productions, and spill the hot hot tea about what else is happening in his career. You’ll have to listen to the end to catch it, but he’s such a delight that you won’t mind one bit.

Here’s what we featured in our Happy Hour segment:

Here’s what we featured in our ShakesBubble Gossip segments:

  • Open access special edition of Literature Compass on PCRS: includes Medieval and Renaissance topics together, and a couple of the articles also come with teaching guides.

Comedy of Errors 201

Comedy of Errors 201
Whamlet

It’s been sooooooo long since we did a Comedy of Errors episode we nearly forgot it existed. We’re here to fix that today. Today we’re talking about early performances of the play and the great source text mystery! We also bring back another feature we forgot about for a long time: How 2 Grad School! And instead of choosing the topics for that ourselves, this week we answered the questions of a fan and prospective grad student, Austin. (Good luck, Austin! We’re rooting for you!) Then we gossip a little bit and GTFO. Happy Halloween!

Here’s what we recommended in our Happy Hour segment:

Here’s what we featured in our ShakesBubble Gossip segments:

  • Washington Post article about ASC Fall cancellation

Arden of Faversham 201

Arden of Faversham 201
Whamlet

This week we bring in guest Sheila Coursey, Assistant Professor of English at Saint Louis University who works on late medieval and early modern theater and narratives of crime, to talk to us about how she uses Arden of Faversham to engage students in conversations about contemporary true crime narratives. We rabbit hole (just a little) into which early modern married couples ever get to be alone together on stage (hint: it’s NOT the Ardens), investigate what’s with all the white girls and their tears?, and try to delineate what constitutes a “true crime” or “domestic tragedy” story. It’s not as -ahem- clean cut as you might think (see what we did there?)

Here’s what we recommended in our Happy Hour segment:

  • Some Instagram accounts to follow: @notquitebeyonce and @antiracisteducationnow

  • Vim’s Shakespeare lectures

  • Maintenance Phase podcast

Here’s what we featured in our ShakesBubble Gossip segments:

1 Henry VI 201

1 Henry VI 201
Whamlet

We return to the War of the Roses with this 201 dive into 1 Henry VI, a history play that even Jess likes. We learn all about the real St. Joan of Arc and how her story and image got twisted to conform to English propaganda and the patriarchy (eye roll), and Aubrey illuminates the moment between Margaret and Suffolk in act 5 that demands to be delivered to no one but the audience. We also Keep Up with the Queen’s Men and give you a quick and dirty summary of George Peele’s The Old Wife’s Tale (which may or may not be the most underrated comedy of its time). Slight microphone issues aside, we hope you enjoy the episode.

Here’s what we recommended in this week’s Happy Hour feature:

Here’s what we featured in our ShakesBubble Gossip segments:

  • Here are some ways to get your digital 1 Henry VI fix:

    • The Show Must Go Online from earlier this year

    • 2013 Globe version available to rent on the Globe Player

    • 1983 production available on Amaz*n

    • Digital Theatre + (check with your local public library)

  • Macbeth Folger BTS

  • We Acknowledge Ours Roundtable