http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/books/11masl.html I was unaware that Marjorie Garber, she of “Shakespeare After All,” had a new book out.  “Shakespeare And Modern Culture” seems to cover quite a bit : makeup, movies, songs, motivational speakers, and so on.  It’s one of those “Shakespeare everywhere” things. I might like this one.  I found Shakespeare After All to be a hard read, the kind of thing that only the hardcore Shakespeare fans would truly appreciate. I’ve mentioned before, I’m always on the lookout that I could recommend to others to make them fans, you know? Shakespeare’s work, in her opinion, is so constantly mutable that it always exists in the present, whatever that present might be. The ways in which Shakespeare is interpreted in different eras say as much about those time periods as they do about the writing itself. I mean, that’s great.  I can totally get behind that.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7777086.stm Always check your props before going on stage.  You know, so you don’t accidentally use a real knife and damned near kill yourself. Did anybody watch the HBO series “Oz”?  There’s a similar Shakespeare moment when the prisoners are performing Macbeth, and one prisoner takes out the other by switching a real blade for the fake. By the way, the story linked above is not a Shakespeare play…but it is about Mary Queen of Scots, so I guess there’s a bit of a stretch connection :). Bonus points for astute readers who remember this story about Brutus stabbing himself when a similar mixup occurred.

http://www.abdpbt.com/?p=549 When I first saw the headline I thought “Ok, just a documentary about those people that get dressed up for Klingon camp every year.’”  I think it’s in Minnesota. Well I’m half right.  Looks like on the new DVD of Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country (one of the top three Star Treks, IMHO), will have some special extras that include actual Klingon Shakespeare performances.  This, you may remember, is directly in response to the quote from the movie where one of the bad guys says, “You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have heard it in the original Klingon.” Personally my two favorite moments from that film are: * When the bad guy delivers the “Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war” line.  Sends chills. * Bad guys are winning, and taunting Kirk and crew over the comm system with quotes from Shakespeare.  You hear it come over with, “I am constant as the Northern Star…” and Dr. McCoy says, “I’d give real money if he’d shut up.”

http://www.abdpbt.com/?p=549 For those not in the know, a “tweet” is shorthand for “a message sent via Twitter”, that service that I should use more.  This one is cute, and gets bonus points for having real Shakespeare references (as well as Ben Jonson and Marlowe).

We sing my 2yr old son to sleep each night.  He treats Mommy and Daddy like his own personal playlist, of course, and it’s common to hear things like “No!  No do Santa Come To Town Yet.  Sing Frosty first, then Rudolph.” The girls, 4 and 6, aren’t into the singing anymore.  They have their dolls that they sleep with, but basically it’s a “Good night sweetie, love you, sleep tight,” that sort of thing. Tonight, the 4yr old: “Daddy, can you sing me a song tonight?”   “Sure, sweetie.  Which one?” “Your favorite favorite favorite one of all time.”   “…which one is that?” “Shall I Compare Thee.”   I haven’t sung that to them in months.  I’m not sure I’ve ever heard her actually ask for it.  I sang, she smiled and closed her eyes and went off to sleep.  Can’t really ask for anything more for a Shakespeare geek.