Shakespeare on my mind, or 'Yet another blog'
The Immortal Bard: William Shakespeare. It is far from original for a writer, and former English major, to profess his love of Shakespeare’s work. It is a good thing I have never been afraid to seem like a stereotype. There is a reason people still perform, read, and talk about Shakespeare’s work hundreds of years after his death. That boy could write!
I woke up this morning with the germ of an idea in my mind and the full weight of the early hour on my shoulders. It dawned on me that I have been a resident of Philadelphia for almost 4 years (and loving it greatly, thank you very much) and yet I hadn’t managed to make it to even one performance of the Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival in all that time. What kind of pretentious English major am I?
The lazy kind it would seem.
Ask me not why I was pondering my pitiable Philadelphia Shakespeare record early this morning, but there I was. I decided then and there, in my bed and with my MacBook as my witness, that I would attend both productions that are being put on this season (Othello and The Taming of the Shrew). Sadly, I cannot let well enough alone and I began to think about all the other Shakespeare plays that I have read, and those that I haven’t read. Another realization creeped up on me, I haven’t seen very many Shakespeare plays in my life. That’s just not right.
That brings us to Stalking the Bard (thanks to Dave for helping me come up with the name). As I often do, I have decided to embark upon another meaningless, silly, and whimsical project: see each and every play Shakespeare has written performed live once in my life. Furthermore, in true Scott McNulty nature, I decided that I would blog the process (it doesn’t count if it isn’t on a blog, right?).
That’s what this site is all about. Me, Shakespeare, and 37 little plays.
This should be fun.
If you haven't already you must get to the new Globe in London and see a play as a groundling. I recommend a comedy, however, as it gets rather tiring, but you've got to say you've done it (get a seat in the stalls for some other plays). Personally, I can take or leave the RSC . They screw things up as much as not in my (not terribly extensive) experience. The RSC not withstanding, Stratford-upon-avon is a no-brainer for the committed bardolator.
Closer to home, don't forget the Statford Festival of Canada. I've been meaning to go for years, though I see, rather disappointingly, that they're only putting on four of the bard's plays this year. Nonetheless, I've always heard great things about it.
Mat
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