American Shakespeare Center

Always toast with "Kiss the Book...!" from Tempest

Dina, toasting with "Kiss the Book" is a favorite! The "Thanks and thanks and ever thanks" is fantastic, Rene; thanks!

I teach high school, and annually I face the question, "Was Shakespeare gay?" In one way the answers are the same as the answers to the authorship question, and I find it most effective to use either or both questions to launch a discussion by answering their questions with more questions: Does it matter? Does an author's historical context and ... Read Morepersonal life have a bearing on the way in which we interpret the text? If so, how much and why do those things matter to you - particularly the "hot button" issues like sexual orientation and the authorship conspiracy? Do you want to impose the value you place on that information on others who may consider it more or less relevant? Can we consider the texts without regard to any of that information, or in other words, is their nothing outside the text? And on, and on...

It makes for an interesting discussion which serves to engender an interest, and once we dive in to a play, and they have fun and see the beauty and the profound depth of ideas (inasmuch as each high school student of vastly varying degrees of intellectual and emotional maturity can), I don't think they prejudice themselves with regard to those questions. They enjoy it; they read it; they think about it; they act it out; they write about it. The characters, language, comedy, and tragedy ultimately transcend the author's contexts and they generally wind up not caring too much about what once seemed important, but they like the literature, aren't afraid of it, and in many cases want more of it.

Hmm. . . a lot of people hate the film. To me it seems like a product of the time, trying to make Shakespeare "cool" for a "cool" audience as if The Spin Doctors had the corner market on "cool."
I remember liking Bill Murray as Polonius, which might have been an accident, someone very uncool stumbling upon something very cool. Mostly, though, the ... Read Moremovie plays like someone's stodgy uncle trying to needlessly repackage something to make it more palatable.
The truth is that Shakespeare doesn't need much help because Shakespeare is awesome. He'll do most of the work, and you don't need to package his plays as anything "cool" because they already are.
In my memory, the Julia Stiles death scene bothered me a lot because she jumps into a fountain, and then the camera is way under water looking up at her. YMMC.

#29 'for thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
that then I scorn to change my state with kings'

Stephen Booth, editor of what many consider the definitive edition of the Sonnets, has told me on several occasions that his favorite is #15. It's mine now, too.

This production reminded me of one reason why I loved Shakespeare from when I read this play in 8th grade with a fabulous teacher--It is a riot!

It really is a great production, if I do say so myself.