A long time ago when I started this blog I used to note random Shakespeare references I heard during the day, like tv commercials and such.  Given that I heard 2 in the last 12 hours or so, it reminded me to post more of them: On this week’s “Lipstick Jungle” episode (watching on Tivo, normally airs Friday night), Brooke Shields’ movie producer character is getting pitched an indie film.  “Set in Belfast in the 1960’s,” the writer says, “Romeo and Juliet stuff.  Catholics and Protestants going at each other.” That was last night at maybe 9:30 or so. This morning on the drive to work (7:30) I heard a radio commercial for Bengal Traders coffee, which I guess they’re serving at ExxonMobil gas stations now.  I missed the lead up, but the man is trying to explain some sort of deal to the woman – I think it has to do with getting a bottle of water with your cup of coffee or something.  “They go great together, like Romeo and Juliet!” he says. “Look how well they turned out,” says the woman.
That’s it.  Hey, I called them “micro” for a reason. 🙂

Next day, same hotel, same breakfast buffet.  Geeklet has already begun coloring a picture of some sort when I say, “Hey, why not try Romeo and Juliet?” “I don’t really remember enough about that one,” she tells me.  “The other story I’d heard so many times, it was easy.” Still, she ponders how she can turn her already created drawing into something Shakespearean.  She colors for awhile, and then says, “How’s this?” On the paper is a banquet table, with a girl – labelled Juliet – at one end, and a boy – Romeo – at the other.  In the center is a goblet.  Above the goblet is the word, “Yum.” She informs me that Romeo and Juliet are having a nice dinner together.  But of course given the whole “sleeping potion” plot device, the drawing really ends up with a whole different meaning.  I love it.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/donation-sends-shakespeare-plays-home-to-the-globe/ John Wolfson, a playwright and collector of antiquarian books, has pledged to donate more than 450 works by William Shakespeare and other playwrights of his era to the Globe Theater in London, The Guardian reported. Among Mr. Wolfson’s collection is a rare first folio edition of Shakespeare’s plays, published in 1623. The donation, to be made after his death, also includes second, third and fourth editions of the Shakespeare folio, as well as works by Christopher Marlowe, Ben Johnson, Thomas Middleton and John Ford. The original Globe Theater was built by Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s men, and later destroyed in a fire; the modern reconstruction of the Globe opened in 1997.

In case anybody was wondering if I’d missed these…. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/chicago-tomorrow.html http://matthewsalomon.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/election-day/ http://matthewsalomon.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/the-day-is-yours/ http://www.lackhead.org/2008/11/once-more-unto-the-breach-dear-friends/   I’m sure there are a few hundred more out there someplace, but you get the idea. 🙂

Forbidden Planet, wuh-uh-oh oh ohhhh….. (Rocky Horror?  Anybody?) Anyway, not sure if I’ve mentioned this before.  I think every time I see that “The Day The Earth Stood Still” is being remade, I confuse it with Forbidden Planet, which is “loosely” based on The Tempest.  Perhaps now they are really remaking it?  I confess, I’ve never seen it.