tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post5490556106054713109..comments2011-04-22T11:31:24.593-07:00Comments on The Untamed Shrew: Deconstructing Shakespeare: Romeo & JulietBOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02903956428449091188noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-10051433865404353142010-09-27T07:08:38.412-07:002010-09-27T07:08:38.412-07:00Hey JM, I see what you're saying with how thin...Hey JM, I see what you're saying with how things can come across with the different "translations". From what I've read, and seen that's pretty much how it's come across to me, re: the "braggarts about raping women" and so on.<br /><br /><br />Yes, I've heard about the whole "homo-eroticism" thing between Mercutio and Romeo.<br /><br />and YEAH, if I could play any part in the play, it would definitely be MERCUTIO! In the future I would love to direct an entire drag version of R& J, and I would cast myself as him, lol...BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIREhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903956428449091188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-61324874811173193522010-09-24T15:19:17.563-07:002010-09-24T15:19:17.563-07:00PS--I'd cast a female as Mercutio as long as s...PS--I'd cast a female as Mercutio as long as she could handle the role. I think it would make for a very interesting contrast. The psycho/analysts are always<br />trying to foist some sort of "love interest" scenario on Romeo and Mercutio anyway. To tell the truth, there is quite a bit between them for someone to<br />latch onto in that regard. Which is maybe why it surfaces so much as an idea.<br />But this way we leave the whispering about closets out of it this time and cast a woman. Go "full out", as it were. Why not? Cheers, JMJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-11196208391224834512010-09-24T09:16:42.323-07:002010-09-24T09:16:42.323-07:00Sorry about the double posting--Google goggled whe...Sorry about the double posting--Google goggled when it should have googled.JMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-43784672487688507672010-09-24T09:10:59.846-07:002010-09-24T09:10:59.846-07:00In defense of Shakespeare penning braggarts about ...In defense of Shakespeare penning braggarts about raping women:<br />Gregory and Samson, as evidenced by their dialogue and behavior together, are clearly written as Clowns by Shakespeare, although many times this aspect is unexplored and they're played way too seriously, I think in order to somehow stupidly foreshadow the conflict and seriousness of the "impending doom" about to descend on us. But it's flat out wrong. I directed them as exactly that, 2 "clowns" so no one takes them too too seriously about their "threats"--they're just two idiots ineptly "sex-talking". The play is really a comedy (full of sexual innuendo) up until Mercutio's death and meant to be one by Shakespeare. He was criticized, and continues to be, for mixing his mediums (comedy & tragedy) in that respect. But it works like a charm when it's dealt with as he wrote it. The tragedy becomes even more tragic because you really begin to like these people for what they are--human; not overdone, melodramatic, "starcrossed" heroes and villains.<br />Mercutio is my favorite also. It's said that Shakespeare had to kill him off or he would have killed Shakespeare. :) He's so damned witty unto genius.<br /><br />As to giving away the story, the Prologue isn't included in the Folio version. (I'm a Folio advocate) But all modern editors since have added it. It IS in the quarto version which, not surprisingly, came after the play had been performed. Imagine seeing it for the first time, not "knowing" what's going to ultimately happen. I envy the first audiences in more ways than one. The question as to why it's in the quarto but not the folio remains unanswered. Cheers, JMJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-86151544810043478302010-09-24T09:08:52.527-07:002010-09-24T09:08:52.527-07:00In defense of Shakespeare penning braggarts about ...In defense of Shakespeare penning braggarts about raping women:<br />Gregory and Samson, as evidenced by their dialogue and behavior together, are clearly written as Clowns by Shakespeare, although many times this aspect is unexplored and they're played way too seriously, I think in order to somehow stupidly foreshadow the conflict and seriousness of the "impending doom" about to descend on us. But it's flat out wrong. I directed them as exactly that, 2 "clowns" so no one takes them too too seriously about their "threats"--they're just two idiots ineptly "sex-talking". The play is really a comedy (full of sexual innuendo) up until Mercutio's death and meant to be one by Shakespeare. He was criticized, and continues to be, for mixing his mediums (comedy & tragedy) in that respect. But it works like a charm when it's dealt with as he wrote it. The tragedy becomes even more tragic because you really begin to like these people for what they are--human; not overdone, melodramatic, "starcrossed" heroes and villains.<br />Mercutio is my favorite also. It's said that Shakespeare had to kill him off or he would have killed Shakespeare. :) He's so damned witty unto genius.<br /><br />As to giving away the story, the Prologue isn't included in the Folio version. (I'm a Folio advocate) But all modern editors since have added it. It IS in the quarto version which, not surprisingly, came after the play had been performed. Imagine seeing it for the first time, not "knowing" what's going to ultimately happen. I envy the first audiences in more ways than one. The question as to why it's in the quarto but not the folio remains unanswered. Cheers, JMJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099932219392937069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-66244896974906640272010-09-17T06:10:43.056-07:002010-09-17T06:10:43.056-07:00Thank you Holly! yes, picking out pictures for the...Thank you Holly! yes, picking out pictures for the blog is very fun, and I try to swipe ones that I know will compliment it well.<br /><br />and I know since you've been reading my stuff for a long time now, you get it. and you get ME.<br /><br />and cool, Mercutio is your fave, too? If I could be in a Shakespeare play, I think I'd want to play HIM. And why not? Men played women, so it can go the other way around...BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIREhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903956428449091188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-76566648936554701072010-09-17T06:04:01.327-07:002010-09-17T06:04:01.327-07:00Thank you Bipolar Beth! I appreciate you taking th...Thank you Bipolar Beth! I appreciate you taking the time for all that input! lol<br /><br />Yes, I realize things were different then, although it's still like this in some parts of the world, but I still think it's wrong, and it pisses me off.<br /><br />I bitch, therefore I am...BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIREhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903956428449091188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-65595932231993615052010-09-16T14:15:26.704-07:002010-09-16T14:15:26.704-07:00Love this, Ms. C! Love all the awesome pictures wh...Love this, Ms. C! Love all the awesome pictures which you found as accents, for one thing - the pictures of different R and J productions makes me want to go see the play again immediately (if not sooner) and the virginity-themed images cracked. Me. Up.<br /><br />Lovely feminist analysis as always - I never really thought about the character of Paris before (he's such a nebbish!), but you're totally right to see him as a tricky figure, who probably would have been a less than stellar husband figure for young Miss J ("Since we're about to get married, that means I own you!") Ummmm... nope, don't think so!<br /><br />I also really like your take on the stupid machismo that results in both Tybalt's and Mercutio's deaths... maybe if young lads weren't expected to prove their manliness through boasts about how tough they are/trained to be obsessed about "honor", we might still have Mercutio with us. Which I would appreciate because... love him, too.<br /><br />Can't wait for the next play!Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03963277385392946022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-40786881502585197562010-09-15T21:11:17.637-07:002010-09-15T21:11:17.637-07:00LOL Love it Cyn!!
I know it's hard to see &q...LOL Love it Cyn!!<br /><br />I know it's hard to see "Will's" plays through our post-modernist, 21st-century eyes, but a lot of the stuff that thoroughly bothers you (and me and every other feminist out there) was part of the culture in the early Renaissance. Women were chattal and fathers paid grooms to take their "useless" daughters off there hands - 1 less mouth to feed (literally). Women rarely made it to 40 years old, so 13-18 was prime baby-making years (especially when 3/4 of children died by age 6 of plague, consumption, or during childbirth). It was vey common to have a wet-nurse raise your child because ladies of the aristocracy were above such "menial" tasks (even into the early 1900's - try watching Pride and Prejudice and see who's caring for the rich folks' kids), children often didn't live long (so let's try not to get attached), and how is it any different from a nanny today? <br /><br />And the only way to move up in the world was to marry up using a daughter. Children were chattal, too. So, J's marriage to Paris would seal the Capulets' fate as total richies in Verona. <br /><br />And there's no reason to discuss the cause of the feud because (a) if we knew the reason, we as readers would be able to choose sides based on morality and (b) if anyone in the play could remember the reason, R & J would know *why* not to hook up AND their deaths wouldn't be a tragic waste, they would be used as further justification to continue the feud.<br /><br />This is still one of my favorite plays because it so perfectly catches the feelings of first love - that "OMG! You are so totally it for me! I'll just die if we can't marry and have 2.5 kids and a white picket fence!" infatuation of teenagers (expecially girls).<br /><br />Oh, and the Zeffarelli version is the best. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Baz Luhrman production, but he cut out so many of J's lines (particuarly at the climactic suicide scene) that he should have retitled it "Romeo and His Chick." Although, the way he layered the dialogue of R and J just after R drinks the poison is effing *brilliant*!!! It's so much more emotional than if she just wakes up to a dead body...<br /><br />Ok, I'll go shaddup now... :)Bipolar Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01617160535356362627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-24073429569997021582010-09-15T10:03:06.761-07:002010-09-15T10:03:06.761-07:00Where was this blog when I was reading R&J in ...Where was this blog when I was reading R&J in high school?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-75629195679561907552010-09-15T10:02:27.934-07:002010-09-15T10:02:27.934-07:00omg , as a fellow "Will" lover you had m...omg , as a fellow "Will" lover you had me cracking up. have you done hamlet??? thats my favorite and i would love to read that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-14728331392512075412010-09-15T06:56:32.710-07:002010-09-15T06:56:32.710-07:00Thank you Kathy! and I think you're right. The...Thank you Kathy! and I think you're right. They didn't get all "21 Jumpstreet" and hire actors almost twice the characters' ages. It's one of my favorites, too! :)BOOK_REVIEWER_EXTRAORDINAIREhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903956428449091188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9032028934658784532.post-34634095681566422452010-09-15T00:45:28.763-07:002010-09-15T00:45:28.763-07:00Love it Cyndi. I think the Zefferelli version was...Love it Cyndi. I think the Zefferelli version was possibly the first time (movies) played by actors approximately the age of our star crossed lovers. My favorite Shakespere play.katgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05007477520480695992noreply@blogger.com