When I was just out of college and getting into Shakespeare independently, I got it into my head to watch the best.  This was some time right around when Mel Gibson did Hamlet, so I think I wanted something to compare it to.  So, naturally, I got a VHS tape of Laurence Olivier as King Lear. Honestly, I never finished it.  I’d never read the play at this point and I simply couldn’t follow it. Funny how time changes us.  Here is the end of the play where Lear, a ghostly shadow of his former self at this point, carries the lifeless body of his daughter back on stage …

(*Note attention to detail – they actually put a scar around Cordelia’s neck!) I’m intrigued by the “howls”.  Here, Olivier does manage to make near animalistic noises, but he’s still articulating the word “howl”.  I always wondered if perhaps this was the equivalent of an “o-groan”, something to be taken more as a stage direction (“Enter howling”) than actual script? I think the interaction between Kent and Lear is excellent, how he so conversationally gestures to him with that “what is your name? you look familiar…” as if it’s just a normal interaction, and yet how he does not make the Caius connection and thinks Caius dead. Ok, need to stop, the “Cordelia, stay a little…what does thou say?” just brought tears to my eyes.  Wow.

Mad Shakespeare is having a contest, and they’re giving away the hot new book by James Shapiro, CONTESTED WILL: WHO WROTE SHAKESPEARE? Contest details, courtesy of editor Stefaniya:

In honor of Shakespeare’s birthday on April 23, Mad Shakespeare is holding a contest: create a postcard (photo or digital art) based on the theme “Mad Shakespeare.” We’re looking for a postcard that epitomizes the aim of our website: to show how Shakespeare is still modern, relevant, and interesting.
Photograph a reference to Shakespeare in your city: a memorial or mural, a restaurant or public performance. Create your own portrait of Shakespeare (maybe based on our tagline, “Shakespeare’s face is changing”). Or take a play or a quote from Shakespeare as your starting point and get artistic. For example, what image is suggested to you by “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury”?
The winning postcard will be published on MadShakespeare.com and the winner will receive a copy of CONTESTED WILL: WHO WROTE SHAKESPEARE? by James Shapiro. There are only a few days left to enter; the deadline for entries is April 19. Visit MadShakespeare.com to enter.

Sounds like fun! While you’re in a contest entering mood, remember that Shakespeare Geek has partnered with Shakespeare in Bits to give away *10* copies of their multimedia Romeo and Juliet software!

“…It’s kind of a Shakespearean story we tell about these three brothers. One grew up on the streets and gets adopted by the king because in those days, when you had sons, they were inclined to assassinate the father to become king,” Prince of Persia producer Jerry Bruckheimer said. “By having this kid who could never be king in the palace, he was always protected. If the father died, they’d throw him out. That’s the kind of Shakespearean part of our story,” Bruckheimer said.

Ummm…ok?  That’s about as Shakespearean as any other “kings had a tendency to get assassinated” storyline.  And Shakespeare didn’t really make that up.  Which brother is the hero? What’s his flaw?  Help me out here, Jerry. 

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/99953-New-Prince-of-Persia-Movie-is-Kind-of-Like-Shakespeare

P.S. – Insert joke here about Earl of Oxford having two brothers, one of whom gets adopted by the king ….

Why not?  In Edward Bond’s Bingo : Scenes of Money and Death, William Shakespeare has “lost his writing mojo” and is living off the profit of his real estate deals.  A local landowner is trying to force him out, setting up a King Lear-esque “man who loses his kingdom” storyline (that’s from the article).

Captain Picard gets to play the man himself for a change.  He must be having a grand old time with it.

UPDATED September, 2010 – My first book, Hear My Soul Speak : Wedding Quotations from Shakespeare, is available now!

Last month I wrote of my desire to “kick things up a notch” here at ye olde blogge and see if I can put a little more effort into getting the Shakespeare Geek brand out in the universe.
Well, those folks who’ve been following for years have heard it from me before, I want to publish something.  I don’t want to *write* something, heck, I’ve been doing that for five years (and over 1500 posts, if my blog software is to be believed).  I want to create something independent of the blog, something with valuable content that will stand independently and gain its own following.  If somebody ever wanted to actually publish it for real and pay me real money then all the better :), but I’ll take what I can get.
Anyway, I am happy (and a bit nervous) to announce that I’ve cut a deal with some wedding planners in my neighborhood to distribute a project I’ve been thinking of, a sort of “Shakespeare for Weddings” quote book that covers all the good stuff – readings, toasts, blessings, stuff to write on your thank  you notes, you name it.  I know that if you google “Shakespeare wedding quotes” you’ll get a zillion generic sites that slap up a few quotes and twice as many ads.  That’s not what I’m talking about.  I believe that whoever is writing about the topic should have as much passion for it as the people who’ve come to read about it, don’t you?
So my planners have agreed that if I can write it, they’ll get it in the hands of the brides.  Awesome!   <—Me being happy.
Now, of course, I have to write the blessed thing.   <—Me being nervous.
We’ve covered weddings in the past, and I’m going through and collecting my notes, but right now what I need is content and lots of it.  Anybody who wants to contribute, hit me!  Sonnets, snippets, you name it I’ll take it all.  Stuff for husbands to say to wives, for parents to say to children, for groomsman to say to each other.  Stuff to write on the “save the date” cards.  The more the merrier!  Who’s got the best marriage in all of Shakespeare (and have you got a quote to back it up? I will swear I love thee infinitely!)  Young or old, rush-to-the-altar or long-time-coming, I’ll take it all and organize it later.  I’d rather have too much and work on a version 2.0 than not have enough and be disappointed in the final product.  They are in the very wrath of love, clubs cannot part them.
This is strictly a promotional effort, not a for-money one, so the finished product will have a blurb about ShakespeareGeek.com and a modest number of links back to the site for more information on certain topics. 
Thanks in advance for any help I can get, and wish me luck!  I’m off to mark up my copy of the Complete Works with a yellow highlighter ….

UPDATED September, 2010 – My first book, Hear My Soul Speak : Wedding Quotations from Shakespeare, is available now!