William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the most influential playwrights in history, and his plays have been performed and studied for centuries. From the timeless tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to the hilarious antics of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s plays continue to captivate audiences around the world. Whether you’re a fan of tragedy, comedy, or romance, there’s a Shakespeare play for everyone. So why not revisit these timeless classics and discover the magic of Shakespeare for yourself?
Master of Verona has an intriguing article that asks whether part of the famous “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow…” scene is actually Lady Macbeth’s suicide note. Pretty neat idea. I love, as he says, the idea of “flouting the audience’s expectations…even more, when I can do so by returning to the text.” So he doesn’t just throw out a “Hey, what if we did it this way?” he actually backs it up with textual evidence for why he thinks it’s a valid idea.
Got thoughts on Lady Macbeth and need a place to put them? Check out our series, My Own Personal Shakespeare: Macbeth Edition, available now on Amazon!Explore Macbeth at your own pace and on your own terms, and document your personal experience with the Scottish Play.
So today, Kerry and I drove 100 miles (each way!) to go see a performance of King Lear.
I’d never seen an actual production of the play – I’ve certainly read it and read about it, and in college, I had a movie version that I honestly can’t remember watching through to completion. But to repeat a phrase I found myself saying to friends and coworkers for the past month, “But it’s King Lear for God’s sake!” How could I miss that?
Having never seen a production before, I have no frame of reference to really explain what I saw. The King was portrayed as very….frail? Downright skeletal, really. A very gaunt old man. Trembled quite badly. I’m not sure that’s what I expected. I thought that there would be flashes of a true king (particularly when he was angry), but really, he was pretty much a very old and weak man from the very first scene. When he did get angry, it was more or less “indignant”, if that makes sense.
Let me put it as a question. The famous quote, “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!”…how is it typically portrayed? I always thought such a line would be strong, forceful, and defiant. What I got was….well, bargaining. “Go ahead and blow, wind. Nice wind.” That sort of thing. I was much more impressed with the acting of Gloucester, Burgundy, Kent, and Edgar. Those four, in particular, were not afraid to put a little energy (and volume!) into their performance. You knew when they were angry or sad. The actor doing Edgar, I thought, did a particularly fine job of conveying emotion via facial expressions.
At over 3 hours, it was longer than I expected, but maybe that’s my fault. I think the audience was a little desperate for a laugh – during the very final scene when Edgar announces that Edmund is dead and Burgundy says, “That is a mere trifle to us now” (or something similar to that), that was actually one of the bigger laughs of the night. During the final scene of a great Shakespearean tragedy. Hmmmm. I was trying to listen closely to Lear’s last words. Nobody was making much of an effort to project to the back row, so when he whispered, you practically had to read his lips. I was watching for references to a feather but heard none. I did hear “Look on her, look, her lips, look there!” and I could swear one of the lines was “Her lips move”, but that’s not in my copy of the script so I’m not sure if I heard it wrong.
Somebody tell me – does Lear die thinking that Cordelia is still alive, or merely wishing that she were? Or is that dependent on how the last line is played? I know that Rosenbaum had much to say on the different versions, but I don’t have the time right now to dig through that audio interview to find the actual comments (and my book is not at hand). All in all I’m glad I saw the play, because now I have a baseline from which to look at other Lears.
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/performing_arts/story/151113.html I like this article for not just commenting on the respective ages of Romeo (around 17) and Juliet (13) and how you have to cast those roles relative to the actors’ ages, but for going into a pretty cool history about how other famous actors have played the roles. Basil Rathbone? 42 when he played Romeo. Orson Welles was a 19yr old Tybalt, which the article comments “must have looked a little out of place.” Norma Shearer was a 34yr old Juliet, alongside John Barrymore’s 54yr old Mercutio. But who’s the goofball quoted near the end who says that some people might call Romeo and Juliet one of the “lesser” plays? It’s no King Lear, but it’s no Timon of Athens, either, people.
Looking for the answer to a crossword puzzle clue, “Romeo’s last words”? Look no further. Shakespeare Geek’s got the answer.
Originally I posted this content in relation to the finale of the musical HAIR, where it’s sung as background harmony. It became a massive hit for me once Google spotted it because “Romeo’s last words” frequently comes up as a crossword puzzle clue. Without further ado:
Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! Here’s to my love! (drinks) O true apothecary! They drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
If you’re here for the crossword puzzle clue, it’s “I die”.
Beyond the Crossword: The Tragic Love Story of Romeo and Juliet
While the crossword puzzle answer may provide a brief moment of triumph, it’s essential not to overlook the deeper significance of Romeo’s last words within the larger context of the play. Romeo and Juliet‘s story is a timeless tale of forbidden love, feuding families, and unfolding tragic consequences. Romeo’s final words symbolize the culmination of their ill-fated romance, reflecting the intensity of their love and the devastating loss they both endure.
What was that about HAIR?
HAIR, the iconic rock musical of the 1960s, is a vibrant celebration of youth, freedom, and counterculture. The show, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War era, explores themes of love, peace, and societal rebellion. In its powerful finale number, the musical brings together the exhilarating energy of the cast with a clever twist. The lyrics ingeniously incorporate quotes from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, infusing the modern narrative with timeless words. This blending of classic and contemporary elements adds depth and resonance, reminding us of the enduring relevance of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a better world.
Conclusion
So, if you’ve been seeking the answer to “Romeo’s Last Words” for your crossword puzzle, you now have the perfect clue to complete the grid. Remember, beyond its puzzle-solving value, Romeo’s final words hold immense emotional weight, representing the tragic ending of a legendary love story.
