The Desert Island Game

It would be cliche for me to say, “You’re stranded on a desert island with just one book, what book do you want?” but I’ve always wanted to ask the question anyway.  I was almost interviewed for a podcast once (never happened) where the guy had a set of questions he asked everybody, and that was one of the questions, and I already knew that my was going to be, “The Complete Works, of course. Everybody says that.  But!  Which edition??”

However, that’s not my question today.  I’m stranding you with a First Folio. So it’s got no footnotes or glossary, you know exactly which plays are and are not in it, and no editors over the centuries have had a crack at changing around the spelling and punctuation as they saw fit.  You’ve got in your hands as close as you’re going to get to what Shakespeare (via Heminges and Condell) intended.

I’ll also allow you a writing implement of some sort, so you can take notes. You take with you to the island all knowledge of Shakespeare that you currently possess. You’ll be rescued at some point, it’s not like you’re going to spend the rest of your life here, but you have no idea when that will be.  Consider this just a forced vacation from life with nothing but Shakespeare to keep you company.

What do you do?  Do you read cover to cover? Do you go straight for your favorite play and read it over and over?  Or do you go to the ones you’re less familiar with?

For my part, I start with the ones that I’m somewhat familiar with, that I wish I was more so.  Richard III tops that list. Maybe Henry V. From there I work my way back to the other Henry and Richard plays, maybe eventually finding my way to King John.  I don’t know when I’ll ever get to Merry Wives of Windsor or Measure for Measure, but probably at some point if I’ve become bored with the others. I save my favorites like Tempest and Hamlet and King Lear as a treat, rewarding myself for progress through the other plays.

Who wants to go next?

 

Shakespeare Makes Life Over

Happy Birthday Shakespeare! You’ve killed us all!

So, what are you doing for Shakespeare’s Birthday (aka Shakespeare Day) this year, April 23, 2018?

Not so fast.

If you enjoy a good wild and crazy conspiracist theory (who doesn’t?), it looks like the world might end before we make it half way through our folios:

The world is going to end on April 23, according to terrifying new conspiracy theories.

It is the date when the sun, moon and Jupiter align in the constellation of Virgo, sparking the Biblical Rapture, it has been claimed.

On the same night, the rumoured death plant Nibiru will appear in the sky sparking a spread of madness, World War III and the rise of the Antichrist.

[Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6031753/nibiru-planet-x-end-of-days-armageddon-rapture/ ]

My birthday missed Shakespeare’s by just five days, so I might as well die the same day he died.  Then again I’ll have to share that honor with 8 billion other people.Well, what can ya do?

Parting is such sweet sorrow!

*grabs popcorn*

 

Comics by Geeklet

If it works, why change it?

So my son’s 12th birthday is coming up, and like many almost 12yr olds he dreams of being Internet famous.  His latest foray is into the world of three panels comics, and he’s trying to develop a following on Instagram.

He keeps asking me, “Share this to your followers!”

I keep replying, “Write something with Shakespeare in it!”  Because I love my boy to death but I’m loyal to the sanctity of the brand, too 🙂

So we compromised. With a little help from yours truly he knocked out a Shakespeare comic specifically for you kind folks.  If those of you on Instagram are so inclined I’d greatly appreciate it if you could do the kid a favor and like/follow/share/favorite or whatever it is you do on Instagram to show your support.  (Note that it is a three-panel joke so you have to do click through to see the other panels, we didn’t even know you could do that until his older sister showed us.)

I’m not kidding it really is his birthday in a couple of weeks so seeing that number of followers go up to a level he didn’t expect would certainly be a nice treat for him.

Share and Enjoy!

Review : Sherlock Gnomes

Been there, explained that, bought the t-shirt.

When you heard that the sequel to Gnomeo and Juliet was Sherlock Gnomes and that it would still be the original cast of characters, you probably had the same thought I did. Is there going to be any Shakespeare in this?

The short answer is, “Yes, actually.”  But it’s in a way that most people will find funny, and Shakespeare geeks will groan and eye roll at.

Gnomeo has gone missing.  Dr. Watson has gone looking for him.  “Gnomeo! Gnomeo!” he cries.  “Oh, don’t make me say it.”  Heavy sigh.  “Wherefore art thou Gnomeo?”

It’s at this point that my entire table (we have a local movie theatre where you sit at a table and have dinner) turns to look at my reaction.  I throw my hands up in the air, roll my eyes and say, “Well, at least now I can justify getting a blog post out of it.”

 

 

How The Night Came : Solo Shakespeare Guitar

Here’s a pleasant little treat for you all, courtesy Martin (by way of Japan):

I recently recorded ten ambient guitar interludes inspired by my favourite phrases from Shakespeare’s history plays. These pieces are slowly evolving soundscapes designed to give the listener time to reflect on Shakespeare’s words.

How The Night Came is a collection of 10 original instrumental tracks, freely streamable, available in a “name your price / pay to support the artist” format.  This first set is based on the histories but who knows, if he gets some backing maybe he’ll release more?

Thanks Martin!