Shakespeare Reading Challenge
Two Gentlemen of Verona
And viewed;
First let me thank Elena at http://shakespearereadingchallenge.blogspot.com/2010/11/shakespeare-reading-challenge-2011.html for hosting this reading adventure. I enjoyed
reading and watching the plays . Let's see how I did.
This was the reading challenge and rules.
1. Puck: Read 4 plays
over the year, 1 of which may be replaced by a performance
2. Desdemona: Read 6 plays, 2 of which may be replaced by a performance
3. Henry V: Read 12 plays, 3 of which may be replaced by a performance
Now, the Rules:
1. All plays must be read between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Anything begun before that cannot be included.
2. Audio versions are also acceptable but all plays must be unabridged.
3. You don't need to list your plays ahead of time but you may, if you'd like.
4. Review pages for each month will be created but are optional.
2. Desdemona: Read 6 plays, 2 of which may be replaced by a performance
3. Henry V: Read 12 plays, 3 of which may be replaced by a performance
Now, the Rules:
1. All plays must be read between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Anything begun before that cannot be included.
2. Audio versions are also acceptable but all plays must be unabridged.
3. You don't need to list your plays ahead of time but you may, if you'd like.
4. Review pages for each month will be created but are optional.
I read:
Two Gentlemen of Verona
The Two Noble Kinsmen
King John
Measure for Measure
Timon of Athens
Pericles Prince of Tyre
The Life of Henry VIII
King Richard II
The Tragedy of
Coriolanus
And viewed;
King Henry as an online you tube video mash–up of
available clips from the Branagh and Olivier films. I liked the Branagh film
for its rousing score and its realistic
battle scenes. I liked the Olivier film for the historical
portrayal of the Elizabethan stage at the start of the film.
Romeo and Juliet at
Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado
The Merchant of Venice
at Theatreworks, Colorado Springs, Colorado
That is 12 works--I am a
Henry V and a member of a band of
brothers and sisters that joined with me in this merry challenge. I enjoyed all
the reading but I truly think I get the most from seeing a play or movie. The conceit that I take from these plays
are that they were written for
all seasons This is why when Adams State’s performance of Romeo and Juliet has the actors in modern
street dress--riding skateboards and fighting with chains and knives-- the contemporary
set design works because the story of young forbidden love is truly a timeless
tale. In the history plays you see kings
fall because of taxes and in Coriolanus we see the Occupy Movement in the Roman
citizens taking it to the streets. And in Measure for Measure we see a corrupted
government telling people how to live their private lives.
We see sitcoms in Two
Noble Kinsmen and Two Gentlemen of Verona and in Pericles we have a latter-day action hero. I
believe that Shakespeare is the beginning of modern writing and that his works
will always exist throughout all time.
Congratulations to all
those who met their Shakespeare Reading Challenge goal.
