A Shakespeare's Birthday Tag!

'Ello to all of the World!

As today is the supposed birthday of William Shakespeare, "The Bard", PioneerGirl over at The Tearoom created this tag and nominated me! This tag reminds me of one I did for a Shakespeare Blog Party, but it has been awhile so I have new answers.

The Rules:
1. Answer truthfully, "Thou canst not then be false to any man." {I just put that as a rule because I wanted to use the quote. hee hee!}
2. Tag at least three people and let them know that they've been tagged. "For he today who does this tag with me shall be my brother..."
3.Link back to the person who tagged you and post a link to your post in the comments of this post, because I want to read your answers and "There never was yet philosopher who could endure the toothache patiently."

The Questions:
1. What was the first exposure you ever had to Shakespeare?

An outdoor play when I was very young. The Merry Wives of Windsor, perhaps? But it was a while before I comprehended who Shakespeare was and that all these plays were written by him.

2. How many of Shakespeare's plays have you seen?

Oh gosh.
Performed live (ones with an asterisk I've seen more than once):
A Comedy of Errors
Hamlet
Julies Caeser
Macbeth
The Merchant of Venice
The Merry Wives of Windsor* (Don't remember the first time really)
Romeo and Juliet*
Twelfth Night*
Two Gentlemen of Verona

Films:
As You Like It (2006)
Hamlet (1996)
A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
I have Macbeth (1979) currently checked out from the library but haven't watched it yet.

3. What is your favorite Shakespeare play?

Comedy: Much Ado About Nothing!
Tragedy: Macbeth.

4. What is your favorite non-Shakespearean play? {musicals are permissible}

Into the Woods! I've seen a film version, but the one time I saw it as a live play it was awesome!

5. What is an adaptation of one of Shakespeare's plays that you like? Why?

I have seen multiple spinoffs such as 10 Things I Hate About You, The Lion King, West Side Story, etc., but Gnomeo and Juliet (2011) is defintely my favorite! It is so hilarious and incorporates the story so well while at the same time making fun of some things.

6. Who is your favorite Shakespearean character?

I'm going with Don Pedro [Much Ado About Nothing] again! He's the best. I mean, I love Beatrice, Benedick, and Dogberry from the same play, too. (By the way, you should all read Megan's post on this play HERE. It is so good!)

7. What is your favorite Shakespeare quote?

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." ~ Macbeth

I'm chosing this one to be original. How's it working?

8. If you were in a Shakespearean production which play would you want to be in and which character?

My family and I were just talking about this today! Thinking about it I would want to be all of the villains because they are so complex! Lady Macbeth, anyone? Or for some reason I want to play Mercutio [Romeo and Juliet] and nail being absolutely annoying. Or Malvolio [Twelfth Night].

9. Have you read any of Shakespeare's sonnets, and if so, which is your favorite?

I have never purposefully read one, I've just had other people read them to me, so no.

10. Have you ever written/tried to write a play?

*laughs nerviously* In my mind, yes...

11. Cast one of the big five {Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Richard III, or Much Ado About Nothing} with modern actors from either the stage or the screen.
{you only have to do main characters.}

This is the hardest question! Don't know anythin about Richard III. Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet have been done a lot (not to say that it can't be done again). The movie Much Ado About Nothing is perfect so I couldn't do better. Well, by matter of deduction I have decided on Macbeth!

It's been a couple of years since I saw it, so my mind is not fresh about who the main characters are. Let's see how this goes (I don't think that my ages match up at all):

Macbeth: Oscar Isasc

Lady Macbeth: Keira Knightley

Macduff (I might be confusing him with Duncan): Domhnall Gleeson

Malcolm: Timothee Chamelet (Do I like him as an actor? No, not really. But for some reason I picture Malcolm like this)

Is that everyone important? I think so. Let me know who else I should cast in the comments!

Also, I was thinking that I have such an original cast when I realized that: Oscar Isaac and Domhnall Gleeson are in STAR WARS together (Keira Knightley was in SW too, but the prequels, not the sequels), Domhnall Gleeson and Keira Knightley were in Anna Karenina (2012) together (I haven't seen it yet), and Oscar Isaac and Timothee Chamelet are going to be together in the upcoming Dune movie. Oh well, I tried.



I tag:
Hamlette @ Hamlette Soliloquy
Megan @ The Pen and The Cross
Ivy Miranda @ Revealed in Time


Thanks to PioneerGirl for creating this and tagging me! What do all of you think of my answers?What are your thoughts on Shakespeare? Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic