Summary of Shakespeare by Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea E-Book
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Summary of Shakespeare by Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea: The Man Who Pays the Rent
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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INTRODUCTION
The Man who Pays the Rent is a book that focuses on the life and work of Judi Dench, a renowned Shakespearean actress. The book was initially intended to be a book, but the author discovered that it could be a more accessible resource. Judi, who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company since the 1970s, is known for her humor, wit, and remarkable memory. She can recite entire scenes of Shakespeare, remember events from her childhood, and even have a photographic memory of almost all her costumes. The interviews were conducted over four years, with the author reading each scene and Judi offering a running commentary. Judi has always loved to paint and draw, and her scripts are filled with doodles. Her eyesight has deteriorated, and she only agreed to include her recent illustrations in the book when a friend suggested they might inspire others with visual impairments. The book also includes Judi's reluctance to be dogmatic and her belief that there is no right way of performing Shakespeare. The author believes that Shakespeare's characters reflect our own selves back to us, and that there are as many interpretations of Shakespeare as there are people who have ever been, are, and will be.
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The author recalls their experience playing Macbeth in the theatre, which inspired them to pursue a career in acting. They first performed the play in Nottingham in 1963 and then took it to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. The audience was vociferous and enjoyed the rhymes. The performance was challenging due to the heat and the presence of vultures. The author also played Lady Macbeth for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1976 at the Other Place in Stratford. The production was pared-back, with muted blacks and greys, except for King Duncan. The author was frightened by the play, but despite the superstition surrounding it, they found it liberating and exciting due to the close audience. The author's experience with Macbeth and the Scottish Play has left them with a deep appreciation for the art form.
In the text, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband, Macbeth, revealing his love for his wife. The letter reveals that Macbeth has met three strange people who salute him, and Lady Macbeth is racing to say "Hail, King that shalt be." She knows Macbeth well and doesn't question the prophecy of the weird sisters.
A messenger arrives, revealing that the King comes here tonight, meaning Duncan. Lady Macbeth uses a pick-up line to summon the spirits to help her unsex herself, as she knows she's crossed the line into something profane. She needs to invoke the spirits to help her lose her femininity and push Macbeth towards what she believes is his due.
The text also discusses the Macbeths' relationship with the Nixons, who were the Kennedys. Lady Macbeth is not interested in being the queen and pushing Macbeth towards what she believes is his due. Macbeth appears to be preparing for the King's arrival, and Lady Macbeth completes the shared line, showing her mind racing.
The text also touches on the couple's relationship, with Lady Macbeth expressing her ambition and the need for King Duncan to be provided for. She finishes the speech with a rhyme, which could mean she wants to put an end to the conversation or make it more conclusive. She hasn't chosen the word "sovereign" by accident.
Lady Macbeth welcomes King Duncan, who is frightened and nervous in his room. She is hospitable and doesn't show any hint of the horror to come. Later, Macbeth is alone and cold about the assassination. Lady Macbeth arrives and they share many lines, indicating the speed of the scene and their attunement to each other.
Macbeth is having collywobbles and tells her he doesn't want to proceed with the murder. She uses their relationship as a bargaining chip, thinking he's a coward and lacks manliness. They have only one night to bump him off, and Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits to galvanize him.
The passion they have for each other makes perfect sense, as they talk about it all the time. King Duncan refers to her as Macbeth's 'great love', and everyone knows it's a wonderful marriage.
Lady Macbeth manages to steady Macbeth and it's the night of the murder.
In the rehearsals of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the audience was tense and quiet, with Trevor blocking up every light. Macbeth went into a tailspin after the murder, filled with regret and doubt. Lady Macbeth, who had heard him call out for Christ, was furious as he was about to give the whole game away.
The next scene with the Porter adds comedy to the tension, as Duncan is found murdered and chaos ensues. Lady Macbeth's silence is compelling, as she watches Macbeth like a hawk. She faints, possibly faking it to draw attention to herself. Banquo, who was with Macbeth during the witches prophecy, is kept in check by her.
Duncan's sons have fled to Ireland, and they are spreading rumors about their father's death. Lady Macbeth is alone with a servant and there is no sign of Macbeth. She asks for her husband to attend his leisure for a few words, desperate as he is not around.
Lady Macbeth realizes that there is a fissure opening up between them because he keeps shutting the door. Trevor Nunn never talked about the rhythm and structure of the verse, but John Barton and Peter Hall did. Peter saw the verse as a piece of music, while John was rigorous and passionate about the plays.
Trevor Nunn, an actor, is a key figure in the play, as he is attentive to the performance and takes an interest in the psychology, relationships, and humanity of the characters. He is not didactic but has a way of suggesting things and leaving it up to the audience.
Lady Macbeth, who is locked out of her husband's life, is left alone and depressed. She believes that their relationship is deteriorating, and they must return to their former state. Macbeth reveals that he has plans for Banquo and Fleance, which widens the gap between them. Lady Macbeth remains silent towards the end of the scene, and she is appalled by his words.
At the banquet, Lady Macbeth is unaware that Banquo has been killed, but she knows something's up. Macbeth asks Lady Macbeth to welcome the guests while she keeps the party going. One of the murderers has blood on his face, and Lady Macbeth loses the plot. She has to make excuses for her husband's irrational behavior and tells him to stay away from him.
As Macbeth is about to reveal the truth, Lady Macbeth is emotionally drained and determined to cover his tracks. He admits that they are young in deed, but she cannot go further with it. He continues to get more voracious and ambitious, leaving her behind and all her time spent. This is why she dies, and nothing exists of their marriage, which is why it is essential to establish how wonderful it was at the beginning.
The text discusses the scene missing for Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice. The scene begins with Lady Macbeth sleeping in the nude, frightened by the darkness. The author describes the scene as a thriller, with Lady Macbeth expressing her indignation at the murder. The author also discusses the scene where the doctor tells Lady Macbeth that the Queen is dead, leaving the audience in no doubt that she has had it. The author explains that the doctor's words are not written as a sigh, but as a cry of emptiness. The author also discusses the difficulty of playing comedy compared to tragedy, as the audience is meant to laugh, and if they don't, it's not a comedy. The author compares the atmosphere of the play at the Other Place to a group of twelve-year-olds at school, with the author describing the atmosphere as frightful and chaotic. The author adores the play, describing it as beautifully constructed, a terrific story, and a great part of the story. The play is described as a short, no interval pub, which is considered heaven.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
In 1953, the author visited Stratford-upon-Avon with his parents to see Michael Redgrave as King Lear. The theatre was so imaginative that they were inspired to become a theatre designer. The author lived in Charlecote, where they met Mikey and eventually bought a house. They lived there for ten years, and their daughter Finty Williams grew up there.
The author has many happiest memories of being in Stratford, including the plays, companies, tourists, swans, lock-ins at the Dirty Duck, and the mist on the River Avon. They also enjoyed walking along the riverbank and visiting Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried, and the Guild Chapel, which used to be painted white with plain wooden benches but has been restored.
In 2022, the author was awarded the Freedom of the Town of Stratford, an honor conferred six times since David Garrick first received it in 1768. This award allows the author and Ken Branagh to walk their sheep through Stratford with impunity. The author's heart is in the countryside around Stratford, as much of what Shakespeare talks about in his plays can be referenced to the countryside.
The author's love for Stratford is evident in their connection to the countryside, as much of what Shakespeare talks about in his plays can be referenced to the countryside around Stratford. As soon as they arrived in Stratford to play Titania in '62, they knew this was where they wanted to be.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Titania
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, the author has played the roles of First Fairy, Hermia, and Titania. She first played Tits at school, where she wore an old evening dress and sewed things onto it. She also played Titania professionally on three occasions, each time directed by Peter Hall. The Dream bookended their working relationship, as it was the first and last time they worked together.
Tita's first appearance at the RSC in '62 was in a production directed by Peter, which had an exquisite design by Lila de Nobili. The production was set in a great hall with two staircases and a forest beyond. The author's costume was Elizabethan with a huge collar, wig, and wig made in Paris out of yak hair. The fairies were painted green and wore nothing but a G-string and a few leaves.
The author recalls being frightened of worms during the filming process, as she had to wear her own clothes and make-up. In 2010, she played Titania again at the Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, with Peter suggesting she play her as Elizabeth I. The author understands the concept, as it mirrors Elizabeth and Essex in the play.
The author believes that there's no right way of performing Shakespeare, and that the plays are still being done. Peter chose a particular interpretation, and if people liked it, they should never think of it that way again.
In Shakespeare's Globe, the Queen of the Fairies is played by Titania and Oberon, who are at war. The role of an actor is to find humanity in the situation and let the lines do it for the audience. Status is created by other people's attitude towards the character, and Titania's retinue gives her power. At Shakespeare's Globe, there are three entrances at the back of the stage: two side doors and a larger central doorway.
Titania and Oberon confront each other in the forest, accusing each other of infidelity. She has a wonderful speech about jealousy, which is a powerful statement about the consequences of their differences on the world. The story of the Indian boy is the basis of their quarrel, as Oberon wants to have the child in his train but Titania refuses due to her relationship with Theseus. Oberon agrees to make peace with Titania provided she gives him the child.
Titania tells Oberon to get stuffed, as she was close to the boy's mother and took him under her wing. Oberon asks her how long she intends to stay within the wood, hinting that she might have one last fling before the wedding. This provoking scene highlights the importance of acting in a play and the impact of characters like Titania and Oberon on the world.
