Shakespeare and Pals: Recapping the Bard

It's the Trojan War! And young love is in the air.

Shakespeare loves him a classical reference, so here's his love story set in the Trojan War. The Trojan nobles Troilus and Cressida love each other, and they manage to tie the knot. Unfortunately, Cressida's father defected to the Greek side, and he has Cressida brought to the Greek camp with him. Can Troilus and Cressida's love survive this? 

Is this play a tragedy, or more of a parody of the Greek myths? Join Michael and Sophie to find out!

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Sources: 

The Arden Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida

Shakespeare: The Critical Heritage, edited by Brian Vickers (Routledge)

A bawdy sex farce Restoration style... by a woman!

Virginia Woolf said that, "All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn, for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds." Does that raise your expectations a little too high for this sex comedy? Probably.

But anyway Aphra Behn gives us a fast-paced story of an Italian noblewoman who does not want to marry a prince, her sister who does not want to become a nun, and an Englishman who'll shag anything that moves. You've guessed it, we're bringing back the explicit tag for this one.

Join Michael and Sophie for Aphra Behn's The Rover!

Do Italians do it (Shakespeare) better? 

Giuseppe Verdi strips Shakespeare's bawdy farce down to basics, cutting characters, plots, scenes. And he makes the play... better? 

Join us to discuss Giuseppe Verdi's opera version of Shakespeare!

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Shakespeare's break out side-character Falstaff gets his own play! It worked so well for Jack Sparrow...

Falstaff returns to the stage. There are no wars or princes this time, only love, swindling, and funny accents. Falstaff needs money, so he's going to woo and hoodwink two married ladies. But these merry wives are more cunning that Falstaff expects.

Can Shakespeare's rotund philosopher-scoundrel hold a play by himself? Join Michael and Sophie to find out!

Make sure to subscribe and share this podcast! Comments and questions can be sent to [email protected]

Sources: 

The Oxford Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor (Oxford University Press)

Shakespeare: The Critical Heritage, edited by Brian Vickers (Routledge)

What if Hamlet but girl... and silent movie?

Everything you know about Hamlet is a lie. Actually, Hamlet is a "she". She still needs to kill her uncle though.

Asta Nielsen's reinvention of Hamlet may lack some of the depth of the original,  but, hey, she gives us a Hamlet college life AU.

Does this 100 year old move stand the test of time? Join us to find out!

Make sure to subscribe and share this podcast! Comments and questions can be sent to [email protected]