"The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader." ~ Paulo Coelho

Thursday, April 23, 2020

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 YouThe 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

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tag! I can’t believe you’ve seen so many live plays. That must be so much fun.

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    1. Where I live I've been really lucky to have so many opportunities! I hope you have fun with it!

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  2. AGGHHHHH IT'S SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY???? I had no idea. This makes me very happy. (We just read Othello and Twelfth Night in my lit. class and it's reminding me how very much I love Shakespeare. He is simply the best.)

    Don Pedro really is wonderful. <3 I need to see Much Ado About Nothing! Isn't it sad I've never seen it? It looks so beautiful.

    Thanks for the tag! And I'm honored by the link to my post!

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    1. I always think, "Eh, Shakespeare." But then I see one of his plays and think, "Now that was rather brilliant!" XD Oh, I've heard a lot about Othello. If you liked it I'll have to give it a try!

      Megan, it is the best! The cast is outstanding, the humor is spectacular, everything about is great! You cannot have a better Benedict and Beatrice than Kenneth Brannagh and Emma Thompson. You must see it!!!

      Sure thing! You made me think with it!

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  3. Finally got a chance to do this! My answers are right here. Thanks for the tag!

    I think you've seen more Shakespeare live than I have! Good for you!

    Don Pedro is wonderful. I love him too!

    Oscar Isaac and Keira Knightley would be so intriguing as the Macbeth power couple!

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    1. Yay! I was looking forward to reading your answers! :-)

      It has been nice with where I live to have so many opportunities! But wow, the number of Hamlet versions you've seen baffles me!

      So wise and great lines, what's not to love?

      I'm so happy that you approve! It took me forever to think of Keira, but once I did I was super excited about all of my choices.

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    2. Well... don't forget I've probably been obsessed with Hamlet since you were a baby. I mean, I first read it around 1997. So I've had a LOT of time to watch all of those ;-) And I do seek them out. I actually have two more on my TBW shelves that I'm saving for when I need a massive pick-me-up...

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    3. Well, that's definitely true. ;-) It was just a few years ago that I realized what the "To be or not to be" soliloquy was about! But, there are two that you haven't seen!? Which two?

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    4. Oh goodness, yes, there are loads I haven't seen yet. The two I own, but haven't watched yet, are a 1970 TV version starring Richard Chamberlain and a 1964 version filmed at Elsinore that stars Christopher Plummer!

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    5. Whoa, Christopher Plummer? That sounds magnificent! I believe that The Sound of Music is the only movie that I've seen when he was younger, but lately I've been really into his recent movies.

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