Shakespeare’s “lost” play to be performed

Shakespeare’s “lost” play, The History of Cardenio, is to be performed at Victoria University this week for the first time in almost 400 years.

There is very little known about the original performance of this play, which has been edited and added to due to having only an incomplete script.  It was first staged in 1613 and was a collaboration between Shakespeare and fellow author Fletcher.

Othello in Dance

N.C. Dance Theater will be performing a modern dance version of Othello to close their season.  In this version, Othello is a famous musician; his wife, Desdemona, is a famous pop diva.

Shakespeare and Law

Law.com has an interesting article entitled “How Shakespeare Can Enhance the Skill of Lawyers.”  It gives examples such as an “affinity for close reading” and “precision of expression.”

Breakdancing

Click to read a very interesting article about a group in Hartford that breakdances Shakespeare.  For some reason, I find it highly amusing to think of Antony wearing baggy pants and a gangsta hat…

Lots of news on eve of Shakespeare’s birthday!

There’s a lot of news tonight on the eve of Shakespeare’s birthday.

• Several Shakespearean actors/directors have cast doubts on the authorship of “Shakespeare’s” plays.
• The portrait that has made news for the last month was finally unveiled today at (appropriately) Stratford-on-Avon in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday tomorrow as they open a new exhibit.
• There is an amusing blurb about Talk Like Shakespeare Day (which is tomorrow – don’t forget! ), which links to a website that has been set up specifically for TLSD in Chicago.

Sir Ian McKellen on Shakespeare

There’s a great interactive video of Sir Ian McKellen here.  In it, he discusses various subjects, including a section where he analyzes the opening lines of Richard III, and other more general topics concerning Shakespeare.  I would highly suggest checking it out!

Talk like Shakespeare

The mayor of Chicago is expected to announce on Monday that, in honor of the Bard’s birthday, Thursday will be “Talk Like Shakespeare Day.”

Forsooth, methinks the idea amuseth me greatly.  What do you think?

More portrait squabbling

One final post about the Shakespeare portrait:

There is an article from the Guardian which discusses briefly the disagreement between leading scholars concerning whether or not the portrait found is really of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare in India

Click here for an article about the spread of Shakespeare in India.  Some of the plays are now translated into local tribal dialects and are having great success.

Authorship debate

There is an interesting article online in which Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens weighs in on the issue of the authorship debate.  Stevens is an Oxfordian, which means he believes the Shakespeare plays were actually written by the Earl of Oxford.

Not your traditional Romeo and Juliet

A new production of Romeo and Juliet is receiving some attention because of a political statement it’s poignantly making.  The director cast two females as the title characters, making the play largely a discussion of gay marriage – an issue currently under intense scrutiny.

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Shakespeare exam boycott

Nine students at an East London school for girls boycotted a recent national curriculum test.  They refused to answer any Shakespeare-related questions out of protest because of their belief he was anti-Semitic.  They were stripped of their marks, which drastically hurt the school’s test ratings.  Their actions are being praised by some, who think their willingness to express their beliefs is admirable.

All-star Twelfth Night

Click here to read some pretty star-studded casting news for a Central Park production of Twelfth Night.  The production will boast a cast which includes Anne Hathaway and other well-known performers.

Shakespeare’s Birthday and the Authorship Question

There’s an excellent article online written by the President of the Shakespeare Oxford Society about Shakespeare’s birthday and the authorship question.

Shakespeare Facts

There’s a very interesting article online with 10 little known facts about Shakespeare including the following:

• The original ending of King Lear was not performed for almost 150 years.
• Two of his original works (Love’s Labour Won, and Cardenio) are believed to be completely lost.
• His bestselling work during his lifetime was the poem, Venus and Adonis

Will on the Hill

Members of Congress, media personalities, and other Washington insiders will perform a brand new version of Midsummer Night’s dream at the Shakespeare Theater Company in D.C.  The play is scripted by Peter Byrne and will contain references to modern politics; it is called A Midsession Night’s Dream.

Results are in!

Click here to read the results of the mock trial based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.  The trial took place earlier today and included Ruth Bader Ginsburg and three other Supreme Court justices.

Waz up, Shakespeare?

A new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Penn State has gained some attention.  It is introducing Shakespeare to modern fashion…and rap.  In the linked article, the director is quoted as saying that the iambic pentameter lends itself well to rap, which is why they have included music.  Original dialogue is still used.

The Tempest, Jr.

There’s a great article online tonight about a production of The Tempest in Atlant that has an all-children cast.  Original dialogue is used, although it is shortened, and all the cast is between kindergarten and sixth grade – including Rachel Bittner, starring as the duchess Prospera (instead of Prospero).

Mock Trial

This is an interesting idea:  a mock trial based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.  For more on this story, click here for an article from the Corporate Legal Times.