#williamshakespeare — Public Fediverse posts

The Trial of Romeo Oscar review – Ayckbourn goes back to the future with android accused of murder https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/sep/11/the-trial-of-romeo-oscar-review-alan-ayckbourn-stephen-joseph-theatre-scarborough #Theatre #Stage #Culture #AlanAyckbourn #Comedy #Comedy #StephenJosephTheatre #Technology #Robots #RomeoAndJuliet #WilliamShakespeare

The Trial of Romeo Oscar review – Ayckbourn goes back to the future with android accused of murder
By Nick Ahad

Stephen Joseph theatre, ScarboroughThe playwright explores our relationship with technology, asks if robots have souls and even questions the value of art in this sci-fi courtroom drama

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/sep/11/the-trial-of-romeo-oscar-review-alan-ayckbourn-stephen-joseph-theatre-scarborough

#Theatre #Stage #Culture #AlanAyckbourn #Comedy #Comedy #StephenJosephtheatre #Technology #Robots #RomeoandJuliet #WilliamShakespeare #TheGuardian #NickAhad

Movie Review: As You Like It (1978)

Title: As You Like It
Release Date: December 17, 1978
Director: Basil Coleman
Production Company: Time-Life Television Productions | BBC
Main Cast:

• • Helen Mirren as Rosalind
  • Brian Stirner as Orlando
  • Richard Pasco as Jaques
  • Angharad Rees as Celia
  • James Bolam as Touchstone
  • Clive Francis as Oliver
  • Richard Easton as Duke Frederick
  • Tony Church as Banished Duke
  • John Quentin as Le Beau
  • Maynard Williams as Silvius
  • Victoria Plucknett as Phebe
  • Marilyn Le Conte as Audrey
  • Tom McDonnell as Amiens
  • David Lloyd Meredith as Corin
  • Arthur Hewlett as Adam
  • Jeffrey Holland as William
  • Timothy Bateson as Sir Oliver Martext
  • David Prowse as Charles
  • John Moulder-Brown as Hymen
  • Paul Bentall as Jacques de Boys
  • Peter Tullo as Palace Lord

• Mike Lewin as Palace Lord
• Carl Forgione as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Max Harvey as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Chris Sullivan as Dennis
• Paul Phoenix as Page
• Barry Holden as Page

Synopsis (via Letterboxd):

Orlando is forced to work like a servant for his brother Oliver, so he goes to win his fortune in a wrestling contest, where he meets a lady of the court, Rosalind. Rosalind (daughter of the deposed duke) is companion to Celia, niece of the deposed Duke, and when the current duke banishes Rosalind from the kingdom, she, Celia, the court jester (and incidentally Orlando) all end up in the forest or Arden, where the deposed Duke holds court. Romantic mixups, cross-dressing, love poems nailed to trees, and a lion await them all.

My Thoughts:

I’ve returned to BBC Television Shakespeare which is always a good option for Shakespeare’s plays that don’t get as many movie adaptations.  I was hoping to watch a 1961 Royal Shakespeare Company performance with Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind, but couldn’t find the film anywhere (although the audio is on YouTube).  Of course, Helen Mirren is no slouch and she shines in her performance of Rosalind.  Unlike most of the BBC productions which are filmed on sound stages, As You Like It is filmed entirely on location with the better part of the movie set in the forest.  With that being said, it is a bit strange that all the characters just hang out in the woods with no tents or other structures.  The cast is talented but the script doesn’t allow anyone to stand out apart from Mirren.  Dave Prowse, famous for playing Darth Vader, makes an appearance as a wrestler.  As one of Shakespeare’s more musical plays, there are some delightful songs as well.  The problem though is that this production is just too much of a straight, by-the-book run-through of a play that really needs a more compelling dramatic approach.

Rating: ***

Movie Review: As You Like It (1978)

Title: As You Like It
Release Date: December 17, 1978
Director: Basil Coleman
Production Company: Time-Life Television Productions | BBC
Main Cast:

• • Helen Mirren as Rosalind
  • Brian Stirner as Orlando
  • Richard Pasco as Jaques
  • Angharad Rees as Celia
  • James Bolam as Touchstone
  • Clive Francis as Oliver
  • Richard Easton as Duke Frederick
  • Tony Church as Banished Duke
  • John Quentin as Le Beau
  • Maynard Williams as Silvius
  • Victoria Plucknett as Phebe
  • Marilyn Le Conte as Audrey
  • Tom McDonnell as Amiens
  • David Lloyd Meredith as Corin
  • Arthur Hewlett as Adam
  • Jeffrey Holland as William
  • Timothy Bateson as Sir Oliver Martext
  • David Prowse as Charles
  • John Moulder-Brown as Hymen
  • Paul Bentall as Jacques de Boys
  • Peter Tullo as Palace Lord

• Mike Lewin as Palace Lord
• Carl Forgione as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Max Harvey as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Chris Sullivan as Dennis
• Paul Phoenix as Page
• Barry Holden as Page

Synopsis (via Letterboxd):

Orlando is forced to work like a servant for his brother Oliver, so he goes to win his fortune in a wrestling contest, where he meets a lady of the court, Rosalind. Rosalind (daughter of the deposed duke) is companion to Celia, niece of the deposed Duke, and when the current duke banishes Rosalind from the kingdom, she, Celia, the court jester (and incidentally Orlando) all end up in the forest or Arden, where the deposed Duke holds court. Romantic mixups, cross-dressing, love poems nailed to trees, and a lion await them all.

My Thoughts:

I’ve returned to BBC Television Shakespeare which is always a good option for Shakespeare’s plays that don’t get as many movie adaptations.  I was hoping to watch a 1961 Royal Shakespeare Company performance with Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind, but couldn’t find the film anywhere (although the audio is on YouTube).  Of course, Helen Mirren is no slouch and she shines in her performance of Rosalind.  Unlike most of the BBC productions which are filmed on sound stages, As You Like It is filmed entirely on location with the better part of the movie set in the forest.  With that being said, it is a bit strange that all the characters just hang out in the woods with no tents or other structures.  The cast is talented but the script doesn’t allow anyone to stand out apart from Mirren.  Dave Prowse, famous for playing Darth Vader, makes an appearance as a wrestler.  As one of Shakespeare’s more musical plays, there are some delightful songs as well.  The problem though is that this production is just too much of a straight, by-the-book run-through of a play that really needs a more compelling dramatic approach.

Rating: ***

Movie Review: As You Like It (1978)

Title: As You Like It
Release Date: December 17, 1978
Director: Basil Coleman
Production Company: Time-Life Television Productions | BBC
Main Cast:

• • Helen Mirren as Rosalind
  • Brian Stirner as Orlando
  • Richard Pasco as Jaques
  • Angharad Rees as Celia
  • James Bolam as Touchstone
  • Clive Francis as Oliver
  • Richard Easton as Duke Frederick
  • Tony Church as Banished Duke
  • John Quentin as Le Beau
  • Maynard Williams as Silvius
  • Victoria Plucknett as Phebe
  • Marilyn Le Conte as Audrey
  • Tom McDonnell as Amiens
  • David Lloyd Meredith as Corin
  • Arthur Hewlett as Adam
  • Jeffrey Holland as William
  • Timothy Bateson as Sir Oliver Martext
  • David Prowse as Charles
  • John Moulder-Brown as Hymen
  • Paul Bentall as Jacques de Boys
  • Peter Tullo as Palace Lord

• Mike Lewin as Palace Lord
• Carl Forgione as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Max Harvey as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Chris Sullivan as Dennis
• Paul Phoenix as Page
• Barry Holden as Page

Synopsis (via Letterboxd):

Orlando is forced to work like a servant for his brother Oliver, so he goes to win his fortune in a wrestling contest, where he meets a lady of the court, Rosalind. Rosalind (daughter of the deposed duke) is companion to Celia, niece of the deposed Duke, and when the current duke banishes Rosalind from the kingdom, she, Celia, the court jester (and incidentally Orlando) all end up in the forest or Arden, where the deposed Duke holds court. Romantic mixups, cross-dressing, love poems nailed to trees, and a lion await them all.

My Thoughts:

I’ve returned to BBC Television Shakespeare which is always a good option for Shakespeare’s plays that don’t get as many movie adaptations.  I was hoping to watch a 1961 Royal Shakespeare Company performance with Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind, but couldn’t find the film anywhere (although the audio is on YouTube).  Of course, Helen Mirren is no slouch and she shines in her performance of Rosalind.  Unlike most of the BBC productions which are filmed on sound stages, As You Like It is filmed entirely on location with the better part of the movie set in the forest.  With that being said, it is a bit strange that all the characters just hang out in the woods with no tents or other structures.  The cast is talented but the script doesn’t allow anyone to stand out apart from Mirren.  Dave Prowse, famous for playing Darth Vader, makes an appearance as a wrestler.  As one of Shakespeare’s more musical plays, there are some delightful songs as well.  The problem though is that this production is just too much of a straight, by-the-book run-through of a play that really needs a more compelling dramatic approach.

Rating: ***

Movie Review: As You Like It (1978)

Title: As You Like It
Release Date: December 17, 1978
Director: Basil Coleman
Production Company: Time-Life Television Productions | BBC
Main Cast:

• • Helen Mirren as Rosalind
  • Brian Stirner as Orlando
  • Richard Pasco as Jaques
  • Angharad Rees as Celia
  • James Bolam as Touchstone
  • Clive Francis as Oliver
  • Richard Easton as Duke Frederick
  • Tony Church as Banished Duke
  • John Quentin as Le Beau
  • Maynard Williams as Silvius
  • Victoria Plucknett as Phebe
  • Marilyn Le Conte as Audrey
  • Tom McDonnell as Amiens
  • David Lloyd Meredith as Corin
  • Arthur Hewlett as Adam
  • Jeffrey Holland as William
  • Timothy Bateson as Sir Oliver Martext
  • David Prowse as Charles
  • John Moulder-Brown as Hymen
  • Paul Bentall as Jacques de Boys
  • Peter Tullo as Palace Lord

• Mike Lewin as Palace Lord
• Carl Forgione as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Max Harvey as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Chris Sullivan as Dennis
• Paul Phoenix as Page
• Barry Holden as Page

Synopsis (via Letterboxd):

Orlando is forced to work like a servant for his brother Oliver, so he goes to win his fortune in a wrestling contest, where he meets a lady of the court, Rosalind. Rosalind (daughter of the deposed duke) is companion to Celia, niece of the deposed Duke, and when the current duke banishes Rosalind from the kingdom, she, Celia, the court jester (and incidentally Orlando) all end up in the forest or Arden, where the deposed Duke holds court. Romantic mixups, cross-dressing, love poems nailed to trees, and a lion await them all.

My Thoughts:

I’ve returned to BBC Television Shakespeare which is always a good option for Shakespeare’s plays that don’t get as many movie adaptations.  I was hoping to watch a 1961 Royal Shakespeare Company performance with Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind, but couldn’t find the film anywhere (although the audio is on YouTube).  Of course, Helen Mirren is no slouch and she shines in her performance of Rosalind.  Unlike most of the BBC productions which are filmed on sound stages, As You Like It is filmed entirely on location with the better part of the movie set in the forest.  With that being said, it is a bit strange that all the characters just hang out in the woods with no tents or other structures.  The cast is talented but the script doesn’t allow anyone to stand out apart from Mirren.  Dave Prowse, famous for playing Darth Vader, makes an appearance as a wrestler.  As one of Shakespeare’s more musical plays, there are some delightful songs as well.  The problem though is that this production is just too much of a straight, by-the-book run-through of a play that really needs a more compelling dramatic approach.

Rating: ***

Movie Review: As You Like It (1978)

Title: As You Like It
Release Date: December 17, 1978
Director: Basil Coleman
Production Company: Time-Life Television Productions | BBC
Main Cast:

• • Helen Mirren as Rosalind
  • Brian Stirner as Orlando
  • Richard Pasco as Jaques
  • Angharad Rees as Celia
  • James Bolam as Touchstone
  • Clive Francis as Oliver
  • Richard Easton as Duke Frederick
  • Tony Church as Banished Duke
  • John Quentin as Le Beau
  • Maynard Williams as Silvius
  • Victoria Plucknett as Phebe
  • Marilyn Le Conte as Audrey
  • Tom McDonnell as Amiens
  • David Lloyd Meredith as Corin
  • Arthur Hewlett as Adam
  • Jeffrey Holland as William
  • Timothy Bateson as Sir Oliver Martext
  • David Prowse as Charles
  • John Moulder-Brown as Hymen
  • Paul Bentall as Jacques de Boys
  • Peter Tullo as Palace Lord

• Mike Lewin as Palace Lord
• Carl Forgione as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Max Harvey as Banished Duke’s Lord
• Chris Sullivan as Dennis
• Paul Phoenix as Page
• Barry Holden as Page

Synopsis (via Letterboxd):

Orlando is forced to work like a servant for his brother Oliver, so he goes to win his fortune in a wrestling contest, where he meets a lady of the court, Rosalind. Rosalind (daughter of the deposed duke) is companion to Celia, niece of the deposed Duke, and when the current duke banishes Rosalind from the kingdom, she, Celia, the court jester (and incidentally Orlando) all end up in the forest or Arden, where the deposed Duke holds court. Romantic mixups, cross-dressing, love poems nailed to trees, and a lion await them all.

My Thoughts:

I’ve returned to BBC Television Shakespeare which is always a good option for Shakespeare’s plays that don’t get as many movie adaptations.  I was hoping to watch a 1961 Royal Shakespeare Company performance with Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind, but couldn’t find the film anywhere (although the audio is on YouTube).  Of course, Helen Mirren is no slouch and she shines in her performance of Rosalind.  Unlike most of the BBC productions which are filmed on sound stages, As You Like It is filmed entirely on location with the better part of the movie set in the forest.  With that being said, it is a bit strange that all the characters just hang out in the woods with no tents or other structures.  The cast is talented but the script doesn’t allow anyone to stand out apart from Mirren.  Dave Prowse, famous for playing Darth Vader, makes an appearance as a wrestler.  As one of Shakespeare’s more musical plays, there are some delightful songs as well.  The problem though is that this production is just too much of a straight, by-the-book run-through of a play that really needs a more compelling dramatic approach.

Rating: ***

Book Review: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: As You Like It
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2019. [Written circa 1599]
Summary/Review:
 

I feel like most of Shakespeare’s plays that I haven’t read yet that I at least have a passing idea of what it’s about and it’s cultural legacy.  As You Like It is a rare play that I went into with basically no previous knowledge.*  There is a complex setup that establishes this pastoral comedy which I feel makes it less well-structured than Shakespeare’s best works.

The basic gist is that Duke Frederick has usurped the throne of his elder brother Duke Senior, who lives in exile in the Arden Forest. Senior’s daughter Rosalind remains at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick’s daughter Celia.  Orlando, the youngest son of a deceased duke who’d been loyal to Senior, chafes at the tyranny of his elder brother Oliver. At a wrestling match where he challenges Frederick’s champion, Orlando meets Rosalind and they fall in love at first sight.

Frederick arbitrarily exiles Rosalind, and Celia loyally offers to go with her, along with the court fool Touchstone.  Rosalind disguises herself as a man, Ganymede, while Celia takes the appearance of a poor girl, Aliena.  Meanwhile, Orlando flees his brother along with his elderly servant Adam, and they meet Duke Senior’s entourage.  Orlando composes poems of love which he posts on trees and are discovered by Rosalind. As Ganymede, Rosalind acquaints herself with Orlando and offers to pretend to be Rosalind so he can practice wooing her.  This feels very gay even though it really isn’t.  Then again, all of these characters would’ve been played by boys in Shakespeare.

In various side plots, a shepherdess named Phebe falls in love with “Ganymede.” A shepherd named Silvius in turn is in love with Phebe. Touchstone also falls in love with the shepherdess Audrey, competing with William for her affections.  And Celia ends up paired off with Oliver, who repents of his cruelty after Orlando rescues him from a lion in a scene that takes place completely off stage.  Rosalind expertly works through all these troubles to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit one that puzzlingly ends with Hymen, the god of marriage, making an appearance as well as news of Duke Frederick also having had a change of heart.

The strength of this play is Rosalind, one of Shakespeare’s most complex and fully-realized woman characters.  Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede pretending to be Rosalind is wonderfully written and  I love how Rosalind tries to keep a step ahead of all the deceit and disguise. Unfortunately, the other characters tend to be underdeveloped and the other three other romances doesn’t add much to the story. The play ends abruptly, not unusual for a Shakespeare comedy, but it feels that if so much time hadn’t been spent building the premise, a more natural conclusion could’ve come out of Rosalind’s scheming.

* This isn’t entirely true, because As You Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues from the melancholy Jaques. I was so surprised when I read it!

All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts

Rating: ***1/2

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John
14. The Merchant of Venice
15. The History of Henry IV, Part 1
16. The Merry Wives of Windsor
17. The History of Henry IV, Part 2
18. Much Ado About Nothing
19. King Henry V
20. Julius Caesar

Book Review: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: As You Like It
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2019. [Written circa 1599]
Summary/Review:
 

I feel like most of Shakespeare’s plays that I haven’t read yet that I at least have a passing idea of what it’s about and it’s cultural legacy.  As You Like It is a rare play that I went into with basically no previous knowledge.*  There is a complex setup that establishes this pastoral comedy which I feel makes it less well-structured than Shakespeare’s best works.

The basic gist is that Duke Frederick has usurped the throne of his elder brother Duke Senior, who lives in exile in the Arden Forest. Senior’s daughter Rosalind remains at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick’s daughter Celia.  Orlando, the youngest son of a deceased duke who’d been loyal to Senior, chafes at the tyranny of his elder brother Oliver. At a wrestling match where he challenges Frederick’s champion, Orlando meets Rosalind and they fall in love at first sight.

Frederick arbitrarily exiles Rosalind, and Celia loyally offers to go with her, along with the court fool Touchstone.  Rosalind disguises herself as a man, Ganymede, while Celia takes the appearance of a poor girl, Aliena.  Meanwhile, Orlando flees his brother along with his elderly servant Adam, and they meet Duke Senior’s entourage.  Orlando composes poems of love which he posts on trees and are discovered by Rosalind. As Ganymede, Rosalind acquaints herself with Orlando and offers to pretend to be Rosalind so he can practice wooing her.  This feels very gay even though it really isn’t.  Then again, all of these characters would’ve been played by boys in Shakespeare.

In various side plots, a shepherdess named Phebe falls in love with “Ganymede.” A shepherd named Silvius in turn is in love with Phebe. Touchstone also falls in love with the shepherdess Audrey, competing with William for her affections.  And Celia ends up paired off with Oliver, who repents of his cruelty after Orlando rescues him from a lion in a scene that takes place completely off stage.  Rosalind expertly works through all these troubles to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit one that puzzlingly ends with Hymen, the god of marriage, making an appearance as well as news of Duke Frederick also having had a change of heart.

The strength of this play is Rosalind, one of Shakespeare’s most complex and fully-realized woman characters.  Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede pretending to be Rosalind is wonderfully written and  I love how Rosalind tries to keep a step ahead of all the deceit and disguise. Unfortunately, the other characters tend to be underdeveloped and the other three other romances doesn’t add much to the story. The play ends abruptly, not unusual for a Shakespeare comedy, but it feels that if so much time hadn’t been spent building the premise, a more natural conclusion could’ve come out of Rosalind’s scheming.

* This isn’t entirely true, because As You Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues from the melancholy Jaques. I was so surprised when I read it!

All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts

Rating: ***1/2

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John
14. The Merchant of Venice
15. The History of Henry IV, Part 1
16. The Merry Wives of Windsor
17. The History of Henry IV, Part 2
18. Much Ado About Nothing
19. King Henry V
20. Julius Caesar

Book Review: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: As You Like It
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2019. [Written circa 1599]
Summary/Review:
 

I feel like most of Shakespeare’s plays that I haven’t read yet that I at least have a passing idea of what it’s about and it’s cultural legacy.  As You Like It is a rare play that I went into with basically no previous knowledge.*  There is a complex setup that establishes this pastoral comedy which I feel makes it less well-structured than Shakespeare’s best works.

The basic gist is that Duke Frederick has usurped the throne of his elder brother Duke Senior, who lives in exile in the Arden Forest. Senior’s daughter Rosalind remains at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick’s daughter Celia.  Orlando, the youngest son of a deceased duke who’d been loyal to Senior, chafes at the tyranny of his elder brother Oliver. At a wrestling match where he challenges Frederick’s champion, Orlando meets Rosalind and they fall in love at first sight.

Frederick arbitrarily exiles Rosalind, and Celia loyally offers to go with her, along with the court fool Touchstone.  Rosalind disguises herself as a man, Ganymede, while Celia takes the appearance of a poor girl, Aliena.  Meanwhile, Orlando flees his brother along with his elderly servant Adam, and they meet Duke Senior’s entourage.  Orlando composes poems of love which he posts on trees and are discovered by Rosalind. As Ganymede, Rosalind acquaints herself with Orlando and offers to pretend to be Rosalind so he can practice wooing her.  This feels very gay even though it really isn’t.  Then again, all of these characters would’ve been played by boys in Shakespeare.

In various side plots, a shepherdess named Phebe falls in love with “Ganymede.” A shepherd named Silvius in turn is in love with Phebe. Touchstone also falls in love with the shepherdess Audrey, competing with William for her affections.  And Celia ends up paired off with Oliver, who repents of his cruelty after Orlando rescues him from a lion in a scene that takes place completely off stage.  Rosalind expertly works through all these troubles to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit one that puzzlingly ends with Hymen, the god of marriage, making an appearance as well as news of Duke Frederick also having had a change of heart.

The strength of this play is Rosalind, one of Shakespeare’s most complex and fully-realized woman characters.  Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede pretending to be Rosalind is wonderfully written and  I love how Rosalind tries to keep a step ahead of all the deceit and disguise. Unfortunately, the other characters tend to be underdeveloped and the other three other romances doesn’t add much to the story. The play ends abruptly, not unusual for a Shakespeare comedy, but it feels that if so much time hadn’t been spent building the premise, a more natural conclusion could’ve come out of Rosalind’s scheming.

* This isn’t entirely true, because As You Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues from the melancholy Jaques. I was so surprised when I read it!

All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts

Rating: ***1/2

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John
14. The Merchant of Venice
15. The History of Henry IV, Part 1
16. The Merry Wives of Windsor
17. The History of Henry IV, Part 2
18. Much Ado About Nothing
19. King Henry V
20. Julius Caesar

Book Review: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: As You Like It
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2019. [Written circa 1599]
Summary/Review:
 

I feel like most of Shakespeare’s plays that I haven’t read yet that I at least have a passing idea of what it’s about and it’s cultural legacy.  As You Like It is a rare play that I went into with basically no previous knowledge.*  There is a complex setup that establishes this pastoral comedy which I feel makes it less well-structured than Shakespeare’s best works.

The basic gist is that Duke Frederick has usurped the throne of his elder brother Duke Senior, who lives in exile in the Arden Forest. Senior’s daughter Rosalind remains at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick’s daughter Celia.  Orlando, the youngest son of a deceased duke who’d been loyal to Senior, chafes at the tyranny of his elder brother Oliver. At a wrestling match where he challenges Frederick’s champion, Orlando meets Rosalind and they fall in love at first sight.

Frederick arbitrarily exiles Rosalind, and Celia loyally offers to go with her, along with the court fool Touchstone.  Rosalind disguises herself as a man, Ganymede, while Celia takes the appearance of a poor girl, Aliena.  Meanwhile, Orlando flees his brother along with his elderly servant Adam, and they meet Duke Senior’s entourage.  Orlando composes poems of love which he posts on trees and are discovered by Rosalind. As Ganymede, Rosalind acquaints herself with Orlando and offers to pretend to be Rosalind so he can practice wooing her.  This feels very gay even though it really isn’t.  Then again, all of these characters would’ve been played by boys in Shakespeare.

In various side plots, a shepherdess named Phebe falls in love with “Ganymede.” A shepherd named Silvius in turn is in love with Phebe. Touchstone also falls in love with the shepherdess Audrey, competing with William for her affections.  And Celia ends up paired off with Oliver, who repents of his cruelty after Orlando rescues him from a lion in a scene that takes place completely off stage.  Rosalind expertly works through all these troubles to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit one that puzzlingly ends with Hymen, the god of marriage, making an appearance as well as news of Duke Frederick also having had a change of heart.

The strength of this play is Rosalind, one of Shakespeare’s most complex and fully-realized woman characters.  Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede pretending to be Rosalind is wonderfully written and  I love how Rosalind tries to keep a step ahead of all the deceit and disguise. Unfortunately, the other characters tend to be underdeveloped and the other three other romances doesn’t add much to the story. The play ends abruptly, not unusual for a Shakespeare comedy, but it feels that if so much time hadn’t been spent building the premise, a more natural conclusion could’ve come out of Rosalind’s scheming.

* This isn’t entirely true, because As You Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues from the melancholy Jaques. I was so surprised when I read it!

All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts

Rating: ***1/2

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John
14. The Merchant of Venice
15. The History of Henry IV, Part 1
16. The Merry Wives of Windsor
17. The History of Henry IV, Part 2
18. Much Ado About Nothing
19. King Henry V
20. Julius Caesar

Book Review: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: As You Like It
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2019. [Written circa 1599]
Summary/Review:
 

I feel like most of Shakespeare’s plays that I haven’t read yet that I at least have a passing idea of what it’s about and it’s cultural legacy.  As You Like It is a rare play that I went into with basically no previous knowledge.*  There is a complex setup that establishes this pastoral comedy which I feel makes it less well-structured than Shakespeare’s best works.

The basic gist is that Duke Frederick has usurped the throne of his elder brother Duke Senior, who lives in exile in the Arden Forest. Senior’s daughter Rosalind remains at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick’s daughter Celia.  Orlando, the youngest son of a deceased duke who’d been loyal to Senior, chafes at the tyranny of his elder brother Oliver. At a wrestling match where he challenges Frederick’s champion, Orlando meets Rosalind and they fall in love at first sight.

Frederick arbitrarily exiles Rosalind, and Celia loyally offers to go with her, along with the court fool Touchstone.  Rosalind disguises herself as a man, Ganymede, while Celia takes the appearance of a poor girl, Aliena.  Meanwhile, Orlando flees his brother along with his elderly servant Adam, and they meet Duke Senior’s entourage.  Orlando composes poems of love which he posts on trees and are discovered by Rosalind. As Ganymede, Rosalind acquaints herself with Orlando and offers to pretend to be Rosalind so he can practice wooing her.  This feels very gay even though it really isn’t.  Then again, all of these characters would’ve been played by boys in Shakespeare.

In various side plots, a shepherdess named Phebe falls in love with “Ganymede.” A shepherd named Silvius in turn is in love with Phebe. Touchstone also falls in love with the shepherdess Audrey, competing with William for her affections.  And Celia ends up paired off with Oliver, who repents of his cruelty after Orlando rescues him from a lion in a scene that takes place completely off stage.  Rosalind expertly works through all these troubles to a satisfactory conclusion, albeit one that puzzlingly ends with Hymen, the god of marriage, making an appearance as well as news of Duke Frederick also having had a change of heart.

The strength of this play is Rosalind, one of Shakespeare’s most complex and fully-realized woman characters.  Rosalind pretending to be Ganymede pretending to be Rosalind is wonderfully written and  I love how Rosalind tries to keep a step ahead of all the deceit and disguise. Unfortunately, the other characters tend to be underdeveloped and the other three other romances doesn’t add much to the story. The play ends abruptly, not unusual for a Shakespeare comedy, but it feels that if so much time hadn’t been spent building the premise, a more natural conclusion could’ve come out of Rosalind’s scheming.

* This isn’t entirely true, because As You Like It contains one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues from the melancholy Jaques. I was so surprised when I read it!

All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts

Rating: ***1/2

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John
14. The Merchant of Venice
15. The History of Henry IV, Part 1
16. The Merry Wives of Windsor
17. The History of Henry IV, Part 2
18. Much Ado About Nothing
19. King Henry V
20. Julius Caesar

https://www.europesays.com/es/755580/ ‘Escribir un poco más’, un ensayo inédito en castellano de Javier Marías sobre Shakespeare | Cultura #Alfaguara #Cultura #Ensayo #Entertainment #Entretenimiento #ES #Escritores #España #JavierMarías #Libros #literatura #LiteraturaEspañola #PenguinRandomHouse #Spain #WilliamShakespeare

How Good is 'Hamnet'?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqs-ueGZ9QI

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A quotation from Shakespeare

VIOLA: I hate ingratitude more in a man
   Than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness,
   Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
   Inhabits our frail blood.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Twelfth Night, Act 3, sc. 4, l. 372ff (3.4.372–375) (1601)

More about this quote: wist.info/shakespeare-william/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #shakespeare #williamshakespeare #twelfthnight #character #ingratitude #thanklessness #thoughtlessness #trait #unappreciation #ungratefulness #vice #flaw #favors #returnthefavor

A quotation from Shakespeare

VIOLA: I hate ingratitude more in a man
   Than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness,
   Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
   Inhabits our frail blood.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Twelfth Night, Act 3, sc. 4, l. 372ff (3.4.372–375) (1601)

More about this quote: wist.info/shakespeare-william/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #shakespeare #williamshakespeare #twelfthnight #character #ingratitude #thanklessness #thoughtlessness #trait #unappreciation #ungratefulness #vice #flaw #favors #returnthefavor

A quotation from Shakespeare

VIOLA: I hate ingratitude more in a man
   Than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness,
   Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
   Inhabits our frail blood.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Twelfth Night, Act 3, sc. 4, l. 372ff (3.4.372–375) (1601)

More about this quote: wist.info/shakespeare-william/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #shakespeare #williamshakespeare #twelfthnight #character #ingratitude #thanklessness #thoughtlessness #trait #unappreciation #ungratefulness #vice #flaw #favors #returnthefavor

A quotation from Shakespeare

VIOLA: I hate ingratitude more in a man
   Than lying, vainness, babbling drunkenness,
   Or any taint of vice whose strong corruption
   Inhabits our frail blood.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Twelfth Night, Act 3, sc. 4, l. 372ff (3.4.372–375) (1601)

More about this quote: wist.info/shakespeare-william/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #shakespeare #williamshakespeare #twelfthnight #character #ingratitude #thanklessness #thoughtlessness #trait #unappreciation #ungratefulness #vice #flaw #favors #returnthefavor

King Lear review – Ian McDiarmid is a titanic, heartbreaking wonder
By Mark Lawson

Crucible theatre, Sheffield The 82-year-old actor gives a performance of absolute authenticity and clarity as the erratic demagogue in a uniformly impressive production

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/sep/06/king-lear-review-ian-mcdiarmid-sheffield-crucible

#Theatre #WilliamShakespeare #Culture #Stage #IanMcDiarmid #TheGuardian #MarkLawson

The Debate Over This Writing Thing

Several weeks ago there was quite a debate bouncing around about what writing is or might or might not become in this era of Artificial Intelligence. Quite a lot was written about the subject. I watched and read most of it beginning with John Gruber’s piece on Daring Fireball about Anthropic’s use of watermarks for AI-generated writing. Gruber called it a “perversion of writing.” Many others weighed in with words, words, words. And more words.

I particularly liked Dan Moren’s piece in response, primarily because it lines up with what I’ve learned and currently think about AI-writing. Here’s a quote:

That might be the case if AIs were writing. But they are not; they are simply generating text. Those two things are not the same. As per the premise of John’s piece, writing is about carefully picking the words and crafting the meaning of what you’re saying, things that AI do not—and patently cannot—do.

In case you’re wondering, I’m in the camp that says that AI isn’t capable of “writing.” If you know anything about the tech at all, you should be too. AI might be able to predict the next word, but that’s a mathematical equation not writing. If you insist otherwise, I hope the kool-aid tasted good on the way down.

Back in the days of my youth, one of the many rituals of sorting wheat from the chaff in childhood education was teaching us to to write mechanically, moving slowly but steadily up to writing things with meaning (remember book reports?) and once we moved into college there was Freshman Comp. Do they still teach Freshman Comp these days?

It wasn’t until later in college when I actually learned what I came to believe writing was all about. Dr. Ralph Cohen, an English professor who taught courses on Shakespeare, film as a narrative art, and surveys of literature, was one of the few professors who kicked my butt. He challenged me in ways others didn’t and I ended up taking most of the classes he offered.

In teaching Shakespeare, he laid out what the physical act and monetary cost of writing during the Bard’s time actually required. There was a real cost to committing an idea to the paper he made out of rags and old linens. Simply put, it meant the work of writing happened in the man’s brain and soul either before or as he was scribbling away with his quill and ink.

I was never good at writing with pen/pencil and paper. Nevertheless, I fought my mother tooth and nail when she insisted I take a typing class in high school. She won. I’m glad she did. Writing for me did become easier on a keyboard and a keyboard has been the primary medium of committing my thoughts to paper or digital bits ever since.

In thinking about this debate I pulled a dust covered dictionary off of one of my book shelves to look up the definition of writing. It’s The American College Dictionary published by Random House copyrighted in 1961. Here’s what that says below:

I also looked up the word “write.”

And the word “writer.”

Google Gemini’s AI summary provides the following:

The highlights in that result are Google’s. Certainly there are many other dictionaries with differing and distinct definitions spelled out. I’d wager that most, like those above, focus on the mechanical. Perhaps that would steer the debate more towards those who think AI can “write.” Frankly, I find that devaluing when I think of the act, or dare I say the art of writing.

Having spent a life in the theatre, written a few plays and musicals along the way, and heard the chimes at midnight with many a playwright and composer searching for the right words or notes, I believe there’s an element that’s missing when most engage in this debate. I’d call it the soul.

Otherwise the infinite monkey theorem comes into play and renders all writing reductive to a fault. Or if The Simpsons is more your cup of tea, 1000 monkeys with a 1000 typewriters.

There are some that are trying to define parameters of this debate as being about process. But that’s any creator’s thing. Some want to frame the discussion about how the march of technological progress always presents change. So, why resist it?

If writing, or any other art form was supposed to be easy or easier that’s when the devaluing kicks in. The playing fields of creation have never be level. Why start doing so now?

That last link above is from a piece from Tim O’Reilly on the subject. I’m not sure if he wrote it or he coached an AI to do so. You’ll understand that if you do read the piece. Regardless, it’s worth your time if you have interest in the debate. Here’s a quote:

We’re in the early days, still shooting filmed stage plays. The masters of this instrument will uncover themselves. When they do, what they produce isn’t going to be slop. In the meantime, I don’t think we should be shooting down people who are trying to push AI’s limits in writing or art. Writers should be trying to figure out the medium, just as software developers are doing in coding.

We may indeed be in the early days. I translate that in our current moment to folks paying for and investing a lot of money to use beta software that promises much, doesn’t always work, and more often than not yields different responses to the same prompt. But that’s the slippery slope we’ve fallen down with most tech these days.

Early filmmakers may have indeed been constantly adapting and evolving the technology they used and the way they used it. Although to pick a nit, the early filmmakers analogy doesn’t really hold up, as most early films were shot outdoors until lighting technology caught up, allowing for better filming of interiors. That’s when filming stage plays really began. (Thanks, Dr. Cohen.)

The distinction is that those early filmmakers were pushing their technology envelopes to better tell a story in a new medium of motion pictures. Not mimic one that had existed since man first painted tales of the hunt on cave walls. That assumes you accept the pieces of the definitions of writing  that describe it as a method of using symbols, characters or words on some surface in order to communicate an idea.

But back to my thoughts on writing in opposition to those I disagree with. It’s safe to say that my bet is anything AI writes, no matter how well prompted, won’t endure for 400 or so years the way Shakespeare has. Or in later generations, Chekov, Ibsen, Miller, Mamet or Shepard. Not even the summaries. Of course, who knows what will endure 400 years into this wacky future we seem hell bent on creating? Or is that erasing?

I’ll end this with a quote from Mr. Shakespeare:

Write till your ink be dry, and with your tears
Moist it again, and frame some feeling line
That may discover such integrity.

Two Gentlemen From Verona, Act 3, Scene 2

A 1000 monkeys indeed.

(Images from KinoMasterskaya on Shutterstock. Dictionary photos by the author.)

Thanks for reading. You can subscribe to this blog if you care to. You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. This site does not use affilate links.

Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings by Jared Diamond review – how to change the course of history
By Steven Poole

The author of Guns, Germs and Steels falters in this flawed study of whether individuals really make a difference

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/sep/02/profits-prophets-coaches-and-kings-by-jared-diamond-review-how-to-change-the-course-of-history

#JaredDiamond #Historybooks #Scienceandnaturebooks #Books #Culture #WilliamShakespeare #ChristopherMarlowe #TheGuardian #StevenPoole

Clowns, corsets and kings: Tim Curry – a life in pictures

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, It and Legend actor has died – we look back at his career

https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2026/aug/26/clowns-corsets-and-kings-tim-curry-a-life-in-pictures

#Film #TimCurry #Culture #RockyHorrorShow #StephenKing #Books #WilliamShakespeare #RidleyScott #TheGuardian #

Love’s Labour’s Lost review – paella, bullfighting and flamenco make Shakespeare’s farce a fiesta
By Mark Lawson

Shakespeare’s Globe, LondonChoreographers Carmen Igarza and Vanessa Guevara deserve to take a bow as spectacular dance and movement add passion to the seemingly unfinished play

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jul/30/loves-labours-lost-review-shakespeares-globe-london

#Stage #ShakespearesGlobe #Culture #WilliamShakespeare #TheGuardian #MarkLawson

William Shakespeare’s Reservoir Dogs Returns To Melbourne In Bold Mash Up • The Scoop

Bringing together the iconic characters and dialogue from Shakespeare’s plays with the gritty underworld of Quentin Tarantino’s film,…
#Australia #Melbourne #cassandrahart #ghostlightleague #melbournetheatre #news #reservoirdogs #roblloyd #theatreworks #williamshakespeare'sreservoirdogs
https://www.europesays.com/australia/60683/

Love’s Labour’s Lost / Much Ado About Nothing review – breezy double bill brings out the best in both
By Mark Lawson

Braboeuf Manor, GuildfordElegantly stitching the plays into two parts of the same continuing story, Tom Littler’s sunny al fresco productions play every possible tragicomic note

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/jul/12/loves-labours-lost-much-ado-about-nothing-review-braboeuf-manor-guildford

#Theatre #Stage #WilliamShakespeare #Culture #TheGuardian #MarkLawson

"All that glitters is not gold" is an #aphorism stating that not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so. While early expressions of the idea are known from at least the 12th–13th century, the current saying is derived from a 16th-century line by #WilliamShakespeare, "All that #glisters is not gold" and, firstly, from the proverbs written by #JohnFlorio on his #SecondFruits (1591).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Ff7R-h5g4

Book Review: The History of Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: The History of Henry IV, Part 1
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2020. [Originated circa 1597]
Summary/Review:

Of the Shakespearean English histories I’ve read so far, this one is the least stand alone.  It definitely feels like it’s setting up Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V.  King Henry IV has a couple of problems: first, he falls out with Henry Percy – a.k.a. Hotspur – who allies with Welsh and Scottish rebels against the king.  Meanwhile, his son Prince Hal is leading a licentious life with his rowdy friend Sir John Falstaff.  I’ve known from reading about Shakespeare that Falstaff was an incredibly popular character, cowardly yet quick-witted, but I found him kind of irritating.  Hopefully, I’ll find him more entertaining in upcoming plays.  The various storylines come together with Prince Hal regaining the king’s affections by fighting the rebels at the Battle of Shrewsbury.

Rating: ***

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John
14. The Merchant of Venice

Book Reviews: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: The Merchant of Venice
Publication Info: New York : Washington Square Press, 1992. [originally performed in 1595]
Summary/Review:

This is a hard play to review.  Even knowing The Merchant of Venice’s reputation for antisemitism, it’s still shocking how in your face it is about it.  It’s not just that the villain happens to be Jewish but the other characters (the ones we’re supposed to like) repeatedly refer to Shylock as a “Jewish devil” and the like.  Even “Hath not a Jew eyes?” monologue, a plea for shared humanity, is in context a justification for revenge. Granted, he has some good reasons to want revenge.

On a brighter note, this play features an excellent female protagonist in Portia.  Even when bound by her father’s will to accept a suitor who selects the correct casket, Portia bends the game to her advantage.  And of course, disguised as a man, Portia saves Antonio with her clever skill as a lawyer.  Ultimately this is a play that doesn’t make me feel good, but it does make me think.

I got to thinking that if I were to stage this play today, I would riff on reality TV show tropes.  Like the suitors selecting the caskets would be presented like Deal or No Deal, and the asides would be the “confessional” voice overs that reality stars record after the fact.  I don’t know, it could work.

Rating: ***

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona
2. The Taming of the Shrew
3. Henry VI, Part 1
4. Henry VI, Part 2
5. Henry VI, Part 3
6. Titus Andronicus
7. Richard III
8. The Comedy of Errors
9. Love’s Labours’ Lost
10. Richard II
11. Romeo and Juliet
12. A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
13. The Life and Death of King John

A quotation from Shakespeare

HELENA: Things base and vile, holding no quantity,
   Love can transpose to form and dignity.
   Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind;
   And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
   Nor hath Love’s mind of any judgment taste.
   Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy haste.
   And therefore is Love said to be a child
   Because in choice he is so oft beguiled.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 1, sc. 1, ll. 238ff (1.1.238-245) (1605)

More about this quote: wist.info/shakespeare-william/…

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A quotation from Shakespeare

RICHARD: I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Richard II, Act 5, sc. 5, l. 50 (5.5.50) (1595)

More about this quote: wist.info/shakespeare-william/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #shakespeare #williamshakespeare #richardii #dying #monotony #mortality #oldage #regret #wastingtime #passageoftime