"Once you get anywhere near Shakespeare, I find, it’s hard not to get into a conversation with him." Indeed! This Viola poem is wonderful. Challenging. After spending last week with A Midsummer Night's Dream, I'd like to write a poem for Helena, who hardly gets a voice, and maybe needs a new vision for what to want.
I've always struggled to connect with Shakespeare through reading but each year a London theatre group arrive to our little town to perform a Shakespeare play. It's outdoors and we sit on straw bales and sip prosecco and if it's sunny, it's glorious.
Outdoor small-town Shakespeare productions are the best. And ANY staged/spoken show is way easier to connect to than reading, I find. So glad you have those performances to enjoy, Treasa. 💛🌿
So many (myself included, to be honest) struggle with Shakespeare. But to see the plays performed is to open all the senses, all of which lead to understanding. I love the ideas you've added here, Elizabeth, and chuckled heartily at this line in your explanation: "...the undeniable whiff of dead-white-guy-ness." Thank you!
The difference between Shakespeare on the page and on the stage is everything, isn't it, Elizabeth? Thanks so much for reading these few lines in his honor.
Thanks so much for these. I had never considered Viola from that point of view - always got so caught up in her struggles to unravel everyone's expectations and then the joy of reuniting with her brother. And I like the thought of Hamlet wanting to wander as a player... you nailed the style beautifully.
I am delighted and amazed at the varied interpretations of the Bard's plays, especially the various casting choices and modern-dress settings. And despite language shifts and obscure references, that his characters are still relatable, the situations strangely familiar. I love that modern companies make it clear that Shakespeare is not just to be plummily declaimed by white actors with upper crust British accents, but merrily spoken by anyone, from round-cheeked Black women to teenage kids in ill-fitting doublets to graceful ethereal mysterious creatures with blue or green skin.
A happy memory - at a performance of Othello in our local outdoor setting, I had almost as much fun watching the 11 year old son of my companion becoming mesmerized by the magic of live theater... "Mom, he was looking right at me!" "can we see it again?"... as I did watching the play.
Oh, I love that story about the 11-year-old theatregoer, Nancy! And yes, I love that Shakespeare continues to be interpreted and performed in so many different ways. I think he'd be thrilled. 💛
Jun 19·edited Jun 19Liked by 26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)
So very enjoyable to see Viola strutting about in your stuff. Despite the fact that he's been gone for four hundred years and he was old and white, his talent was undeniable. I studied him a lot while in school and with each passing year, each time I read or saw another production, the timelessness of his skill as a writer became more apparent. Ben Jonson said that he “He was not of an age, but for all time!” Thanks Elizabeth, excellent job.
"Once you get anywhere near Shakespeare, I find, it’s hard not to get into a conversation with him." Indeed! This Viola poem is wonderful. Challenging. After spending last week with A Midsummer Night's Dream, I'd like to write a poem for Helena, who hardly gets a voice, and maybe needs a new vision for what to want.
Oh, I hope you write that poem, Rebecca. I'd love to read it. Thank you for reading these! 💛🌿
I've always struggled to connect with Shakespeare through reading but each year a London theatre group arrive to our little town to perform a Shakespeare play. It's outdoors and we sit on straw bales and sip prosecco and if it's sunny, it's glorious.
Outdoor small-town Shakespeare productions are the best. And ANY staged/spoken show is way easier to connect to than reading, I find. So glad you have those performances to enjoy, Treasa. 💛🌿
Both poems were undeniably eloquent! They caused me to review both masterpieces.
Grief is at the heart of both plays
A tragedy and a comedy—so much of life! I admire your poetic intelligence Elizabeth.
You always make me think!
Thank you so much, sister Lucinda. Honored and happy to share thoughts with you! 🥰
So many (myself included, to be honest) struggle with Shakespeare. But to see the plays performed is to open all the senses, all of which lead to understanding. I love the ideas you've added here, Elizabeth, and chuckled heartily at this line in your explanation: "...the undeniable whiff of dead-white-guy-ness." Thank you!
The difference between Shakespeare on the page and on the stage is everything, isn't it, Elizabeth? Thanks so much for reading these few lines in his honor.
I like Shakespeare. He has so many memorable lines from his plays and from his poems that it is hard to make a any list of favorites.
I agree, Luis! Thank you for reading.
Both poems are beautiful, Elizabeth. I love your little niche!
Thank you for joining me there, Fotini!
Thanks so much for these. I had never considered Viola from that point of view - always got so caught up in her struggles to unravel everyone's expectations and then the joy of reuniting with her brother. And I like the thought of Hamlet wanting to wander as a player... you nailed the style beautifully.
I am delighted and amazed at the varied interpretations of the Bard's plays, especially the various casting choices and modern-dress settings. And despite language shifts and obscure references, that his characters are still relatable, the situations strangely familiar. I love that modern companies make it clear that Shakespeare is not just to be plummily declaimed by white actors with upper crust British accents, but merrily spoken by anyone, from round-cheeked Black women to teenage kids in ill-fitting doublets to graceful ethereal mysterious creatures with blue or green skin.
A happy memory - at a performance of Othello in our local outdoor setting, I had almost as much fun watching the 11 year old son of my companion becoming mesmerized by the magic of live theater... "Mom, he was looking right at me!" "can we see it again?"... as I did watching the play.
Oh, I love that story about the 11-year-old theatregoer, Nancy! And yes, I love that Shakespeare continues to be interpreted and performed in so many different ways. I think he'd be thrilled. 💛
Really super, Elizabeth, thank you !
So glad you enjoyed it, Maureen!
Thank you for this, this morning Elizabeth. It has touched me dearly, thinking of one coming to the shore of our dear country in this time.
Never easy to be an immigrant, let alone a refugee...! Thank you so much for such a thoughtful reading, Sandy.
So very enjoyable to see Viola strutting about in your stuff. Despite the fact that he's been gone for four hundred years and he was old and white, his talent was undeniable. I studied him a lot while in school and with each passing year, each time I read or saw another production, the timelessness of his skill as a writer became more apparent. Ben Jonson said that he “He was not of an age, but for all time!” Thanks Elizabeth, excellent job.
Thanks, Wes!