My company is having a Team Trivia night next week, but it falls on my son’s birthday so I can’t attend. Frustrating, to be sure, because while I may not be jumping up and down to join the company softball team, trivia is kind of my chance to shine. Only game where I’m picked first 🙂
I’ve already told them to text me any Shakespeare questions.
“Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear*bzzzt*…hang on….Henry….the…Sixth….part……two. Â Sorry. Â Where were we?”
I’m joking about that, but I’m also completely serious. Â I already told our team captain that I will play remotely. He said he’d see if it’s allowed, but somehow I doubt it. I also assume that my wife will kill me if I even attempt it.
Normally for my lunch break I go for a walk around the block. Â Today it’s raining so I cut it short, and returning to the company kitchen I see our CEO is hanging out, talking to some coworkers of mine. Â As I’m getting my lunch out of the refrigerator I clearly hear him say, “…the works of Shakespeare…” but I don’t have the context for any other part of the story.
I quickly step up behind him and stand there, waiting for a break. Â Everybody sees me but him.
“You rang?” I ask. Â “I heard my word.”
He jumps, spins, and says, “Geez you’re like an elf! Â Say the magic word and *poof* you appear.”
I’m totally ok with writing that into my job description.
Costume Design:Â Fantastic Beasts With Two Backs And Where To Find Them
Documentary (Short Subject): Â Bruised White Helmets and Bended Swords
Film Editing, Sound Mixing: A Hawk From A Hacksaw Ridge
Makeup and Hair Styling:Â Self-Slaughter Squad
Music (Original Score), Production Design:Â ‘Ban, ‘Ban, Ca-CaliLaLaLand
Sound Editing: Arrivals of My Watch
Visual Effects:Â You Kiss by The Jungle Book
Writing (Original Screenplay): Manchester By The Sea Of Troubles
Best Picture: Well Shone, Moonlight!
(And I’d like to award the special Shakespeare Geek Award to Hidden Behind An Arras Figures because I thought that was a good joke and I wouldn’t get to use it otherwise!)
We join the Bradys and the Partridges in 1974 just after the ABC Network ceased airing their chronicles. No longer under America’s watchful eye, the two families meet on a collision course in a blood-soaked, vengeance-fueled, lust-filled crossover episode of Shakespearean proportions. THE BARDY BUNCH is a mash-up of a dozen Shakespeare plays set in the 1970s that star the two classic TV families. The New York Times deems this show as “irresistible.” The production will make audiences fall in love with the Bradys and Partridges all over again!
This just showed up in my inbox, I’m just not quite sure what to do with it :). When something calls itself anything “of Shakespearean proportions” I roll my eyes and reach for the “Next” button – but this show is also calling itself “a mash-up of a dozen shakespeare plays set it the 1970s”, and that’s got my interest. The problem is that I can’t find a single reference to what those plays might be, or how they integrate with the plot?
What do we think? Anybody in the neighborhood familiar with this group, or going to go check it out?
UPDATE! I asked for more detail about the Shakespeare connections and got back, “The show makes comparisons of the characters of the families to famous Shakespeare characters. For instance Marcia Brady is Juliet and Keith Partridge is Romeo.”
From time to time, Bardfilm and Shakespeare Geek have tried putting a Shakespearean spin on some of the classic genres of humor. They’ve previously tackled light bulb jokes and dealt with why the chicken crossed the road. Finally, the great challenge of the Knock knock joke proved irresistible. Here are some Shakespearean knock-knock jokes that you can use to entertain or torment your friends, colleagues, and children. No, you don’t need advanced Shakespeare knowledge to get all of them – but it certainly helps sometimes!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Oberon. Oberon who? Oberon the other bank you might try to catch some fish.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Noah. Noah who? Noah’s the winter of our discontent.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Dogberry. Dogberry who? Dog bury a bone in my petunias again, dog get sent to the pound.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar who? Julius, seize her! She’s the one who stole my wallet!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? The Earl of Oxford. The Earl of Oxford who? Exactly.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Wherefore means. Wherefore means who? No, “wherefore” means “why.” How many times do we have to go over this?
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Nay, answer me! Stand and unfold yourself. Long live the king?
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Laertes. Laertes who? Layer Ts and sweaters to stay dry and comfortable on the ski slopes.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? The Nightingale. The Nightingale who? Ha! Fooled you! It’s really the Lark.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Orlando. Orlando who? Or Lando or Leia or Luke or Chewbacca will pilot the Millennium Falcon.
Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Tom. Tom who? Tom R. O. and Tom R. O. and Tom R. O. We creep in this petty pace from day to day.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Shelly. Shelly who? Shelly compare thee to a summer’s day?
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Hal. Hal who? Hal long until Henry IV dies and I can become king?
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Et. Et who? Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Utah. Utah who? Utah me language, and my profit on it is I know how to curse!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? The cause, my soul. The cause, my soul who? Let me not name it to you!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Leon. Leon who? Leon Macduff.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Rosencrantz. No, wait, Guildenstern! *sigh*—let me get back to you.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Ferris. Ferris who? Ferris foul and foul is fair.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Lysander. Lysander who? Lie, Sander, and you’ll get in trouble, Sander.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Cordelia. Cordelia who? Oh, that’s real nice, Daddy. I come all the way from France with an army to rescue you and that’s the welcome I get.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Riese. Riese who? Riese and not the need.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? The Porter from Macbeth. The Porter from Macbeth who? The Porter from Macbeth, who wants to know how you like it! Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock. Knock, Knock.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Interrupting Chorus. Interrupting . . . O FOR A MUSE OF FIRE!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Demetrius. Demetrius who? Just try to Demetri us before we Demetri you!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Hamlet. Hamlet who? Ham let Ophee fall in love with him.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Hamlet. Hamlet who? Hamlet the dogs out! (woof, woof woof woof…)
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Helena. Helena who? Helena handbasket is where this world seems to be going.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Pericles. Pericles who? Well, I know it’s not Hamlet, but it’s not that unknown.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Rosaline. Rosaline who? Yeah, that’s what Romeo said as soon as he saw Juliet.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Lloyd. Lloyd who? Lloyd, what fools these moytals be.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Mary. Mary who? Mary, your manhood mew.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare who? William Shakespeare cans so they explode when you open them.
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Interrupting Richard the Third. Interrupting Richard the . . . HORSE!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Amos. Amos who? Amos shapen knave; his mother was a witch, and one so strong that could control the moon!
Knock, Knock. Who’s there? Otis. Otis who? Otis too, too solid flesh! I wish it would melt, thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or . . .
Otis too true! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience.
Knock knock. Who’s there? Mike. Mike who? Mike Ingdom for a horse.
Knock knock. Who’s there? Arthur. Arthur who? Arthur world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
Knock knock. Who’s there? Toby. Toby who? Wait—sorry. Not Toby. Make up your mind! Who’s there? Toby or not Toby, that is the question.
We thank kj, the author of Bardfilm, for this guest post. Bardfilm is a blog that comments on films, plays, and other matters related to Shakespeare.
