14 Comments
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Susie Knox's avatar

I’m wondering if this play is done much now. I can’t imagine being cajoled into clapping at the end by the king’s final speech.

That being said, I did mark 2 great passages. And I admit I’m a tragedy girl.

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Henry Oliver's avatar

It’s not very popular no! I saw it recently and it wasn’t done well either

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Katy Sammons's avatar

I’m just now jumping in here, so I look forward to an introduction to Shakespeare. Also, I used Sparknotes as a reference as I read the play. Do you have a better recommendation? Also, I live in an area where theater is limited. Can you recommend a film adaptation? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the play.

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Henry Oliver's avatar

Arden editions are best alongside Cambridge

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Patrick's avatar

Contra Henry’s advice (so take this with a big grain of salt), I have found that I prefer cheaper editions with fewer footnotes and only the occasional gloss on an uncommon word. I find myself distracted by the footnotes (which I can’t help but read), and it breaks up the flow of the play. Your mileage may vary.

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Katy Sammons's avatar

Thanks, Patrick! That may be the case for me too, based on similar past experience. I did go ahead and order the Arden Shakespeare for Macbeth, so I'll see how it goes and adjust accordingly, if necessary.

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Patrick's avatar

I think I'll be using the cheap Signet Classics copy I have lying around, so we'll see how it goes for both of us. Good luck!

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Chris M's avatar

Thank you. I'm excited about Jane Austen also. What a discovery for me this year.

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Patrick's avatar

In addition to reading, I listened to the Arkangel Shakespeare production. It was pretty good. I had never actually read this one before, and I kept wondering if Helena might just be better off without Bertram. Am I even supposed to believe his hasty repentance at the end? I noticed some similarities to the bedroom switcheroo in *Measure for Measure*, and also the prank pulled on Parolles was very similar to the one Hal pulled on Falstaff in *Henry IV Part I.* The similarities weren’t overly distracting, though.

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Henry Oliver's avatar

That’s the central question of the play!

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Kieran Garland's avatar

will this be recorded? hope so, as it turned out i've had to move today. hope America is treating you well!

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Patrick's avatar

Disappointed to have missed the zoom session, I hope you’ll be able to post a video.

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Pamela Shields's avatar

What a brilliant idea! How about To Kill a Mocking Bird , Anne Tyler, Ian Leslie et al (although the last Anne Tyler is a Turkey) ?

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Andrew Wilson's avatar

Agreed :)

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