Comments on: Review: The Comedy of Errors, William Shakespeare

By: Constantine Cavafy « Jenny's Books

Constantine Cavafy « Jenny's Books — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:04:51 +0000

[…] my keyboard. And I am the girl who dedicated a whole paragraph to how exciting it was to get back the memory of stychomythia, and drunk-on-wordplay-posted about Tom Stoppard’s clever use of Victorian sex slang. […]

By: Wrapping up 2009 « Jenny's Books

Wrapping up 2009 « Jenny's Books — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:13:13 +0000

[…] Tale, Revolutionary Road, The Witch of Portobello, and some of Shakespeare’s early plays); some I’ve been saving as a treat for myself (The Mask of Apollo, The Enchantress of […]

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:50:56 +0000

In reply to Sharry.

That production sounds really cool! I think this is definitely one of Shakespeare’s plays that needs a lot from the individual director. Not like Romeo and Juliet, where you can pretty much show up, say the lines, and get the emotional response you need. (That fight scene with Mercutio and Tybalt gives me chills every time.)

Oh, God, I can hardly watch the scenes with Bottom and Titania – embarrassment humor hurts me. On the other hand I love the production of Pyramus & Thisbe. With the wall and everything. Bless.

By: Sharry

Sharry — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:07:29 +0000

I saw Comedy of Erros on stage this summer. It was fantastic. They put in all these little homages to Shakespeare himself (Shakespeare made several appearances, whereby it was suggested that he was inspired by the unlikely events taking place in the tavern before him). There was lots of Dromios-getting beat-up scenes and strange modern twists thrown into some conventional scenes (i.e. Angelo gliding by in his limo-style carriage and selling his bling). Needless to say, they slapstick-humored it up but still preserved the Shakespearean wit. The two comedies I've actually read are Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Agree with you: the whole Malvolio being humiliated in front of Olivia was so satisfying. In AMND, I love the scene where Bottom and the others are rehearsing the play in the woods and Bottom develops a donkey head, and everyone screams their heads off and run away calling him a monster. Then his horrid screeching wakes Titania who immediately falls in love with him. Bottom is just so clueless- of course he won't question what is happening, his dreams have come true!- its just hilarious.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:09:38 +0000

In reply to Rosemary.

I never have read that, but it sounds fun! I’ll get it next time I’m at the library. 🙂 Also, Measure for Measure is one of the comedies I’ve never read and know nothing about – looking forward to reading it when I get there.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:08:59 +0000

In reply to Care.

Tomatoes, eh? I will duck and weave – or maybe try and catch some and use them in my cooking. Much more useful than rotten eggs! 😛

By: Care

Care — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:36:59 +0000

In reply to Jenny.

Goodness NO! I would never pelt you with rotten eggs. Tomatos maybe, but not eggs. and uh, yes. I don’t have the edu-knowledge you have, literary or otherwise.
I do enjoy your posts very much – even if way over my head.

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:51:23 +0000

In college, the Royal Shakespeare Company performed Measure for Measure at one of our on campus theaters. It was amazing and super hilarious!

Have you read Shakespeare is Hard, But So is Life by Fintan O’Toole? Quite possibly the most side splittingly funny piece of literary criticism ever. 🙂

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:52:04 +0000

In reply to rhapsodyinbooks. Zeugma IS hard! A lot of literary devices are difficult to pull off, but I like to spot them. :)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:50:55 +0000

In reply to Eva.

Most of mine are too – at least the ones I’d like to see on a regular basis. I mean, I have a lot of love for the Scottish play and Romeo and Juliet, and Othello; but I don’t want to see them every day.