Various people seem to be posting about the Shakespeare plays they've seen, so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon. Thanks to ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cm and Bardcamp, if you count readthroughs, I've seen all of them at least once, although there are a few where my memory is lost in a haze of alcohol or tiredness or just plain terribleness. *cough* King John *cough*
All's Well That Ends Well - I think I've done two readthroughs of this, both as part of Bardcamps. As with most of the problem plays, I like it a lot even though (or perhaps because) it's deeply uncomfortable. I don't think I've seen it staged or filmed, but would like to.
Antony and Cleopatra - another one I've only done as readthroughs.cm played the lead both times.
As You Like It - Do you know what's hilarious? Girls pretending to be boys. Do you know what's even more hilarious? Girls pretending to be boys pretending to be girls. I've seen the Kenneth Branagh film, and I have vague recollections of seeing it on stage, but can't for the life of me remember where or when.
Comedy of Errors - Do you know what's hilarious? Twins! Do you know what's even more hilarious? More twins! The Bardcamp readthrough is my only encounter with this play, and I don't remember much about it.
Coriolanus - Another bardcamp only one. I bounced off this one a bit, although I know several people who really rate it.
Cymbeline - Shakespeare's greatest hits! Plot points from Othello, As You Like It, R&J, and others, all mashed up into complete nonsense, that I have a real soft spot for. I've seen it staged at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, and done it in a couple of readthroughs, once of which I got to play Iachimo, which was tremendous fun.
Hamlet - I saw a rather good version of this a couple of years ago at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park that had only three actors. Obviously it was very heavily cut, but it worked rather well. Other productions I've seen include the Branagh film, two straight Bardcamp readthroughs, and our ridiculous and utterly glorious "Hamlet, the Pantomime". I suspect there have been others, but none are coming to mind right now.
Henry IV, Parts I & II - I've seen the BBC Shakespeare versions and the bardcamp readthrough, but I don't remember them terribly clearly
Henry V - I'm quite fond of this one. The first production I saw was in Richmond, which bothcm and themidnightgirl were in. That was quite soon after Ramesh & I had started dating, I think. I also saw it at the Barbican with mrph, and both the Branagh and the BBC Shakespeare film versions.
Henry VI, Part I, II, and III - I remember these more clearly than the Henry IVs, mostly I think because I had a more substantial part in the Bardcamp readthrough, but they're still a little bit blurry. I've also watched the BBC Shakespeare versions.
Henry VIII - Again, just the BBC Shakespeare and the Bardcamp versions
Julius Caesar - Just Bardcamp
King John - Just Bardcamp
King Lear -robert_jones and I saw this in Trinity gardens as part of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. The weather was perfect, which is to say, it started out reasonably sunny, but as the evening wore on the clouds rolled across and the heavens opened and it was a bit miserable but very very apt.
Love's Labour's Lost - I saw this at the RSC with David Tennant, and it was a lot of fun. I would like to get to know this play better.
Macbeth - I saw this on stage with Patrick Stewart a few years ago, and also his film version. And I played Lady M in the second Bardcamp readthrough, which I really really enjoyed.
Measure for Measure - this is my favourite Shakespeare play. I've been in three or four readthroughs, and can't decide whether I enjoyed it more playing Angelo or the Duke. I saw it at the Globe a few years ago, and then more recently at the Donmar withcuddlyviking, which we both thought was amazing, although obandsoller and robert_jones were less convinced.
Merchant of Venice - I think I have seen this staged once, but I can't remember any details at all.
Merry Wives of Windsor - For quite a long time, this was the only one I'd never seen, as I missed the Bardcamp readthrough, but it's currently on at the Globe, and was broadcast to cinemas, so I went with my parents. It was better than I expected. Popcorn, but enjoyable popcorn, and well acted. I was particularly impressed with Falstaff, who managed to make the character distinctively himself, but not just channelling Brian Blessed.
Midsummer Night's Dream - Probably like may people, this was the first Shakespeare play I saw, and also probably the one I've seen the most often, although it's not a particular favourite. It's one of very few that I've actually performed in on stage rather than as a readthrough (just a bit part, about 25 years ago). It is however, responsible for my favourite example of the "Teen High School Shakespeare Adaptation Movie" genre, "Were the World Mine", whichleonato introduced me to a little while ago.
Much Ado about Nothing - This is my favourite of the comedies, because I actually like Beatrice and Benedick as a couple. I don't think I've actually seen it on stage, but there have been loads of readthroughs, and I've watched both the Branagh and the Whedon films at least twice. I really like the Whedon one particuarly.
Othello - I've seen one straight production of this on stage, but I can't remember where or with whom. It was a fairly modern setting, all dark and grim and shouty. A few years agohjdoom and I saw Omkara, an excellent Bollywood retelling of the story. And kerrypolka and I saw "Red Velvet" starring Adrian Lester as Ira Aldridge, the first black actor to play Othello.
Pericles - Just Bardcamp, and I can't really remember anything about it.
Richard II - This one I've seen quite a few times. BBC Shakespeare, and Bardcamp, and at the RSC with David Tennant, and the later BBC version The Hollow Crown. But I'm pretty sure the best version was the one I saw recently at the Globe, with the cast all women of colour..
Richard III - I first saw this when I was about ten, too young to appreciate it really, and don't remember much about that production. Since then there have been a lot of readthroughs of it, and I've seen the McKellan film, but I'm not sure I've actually seen it on stage again.
Romeo and Juliet - Another one that I've seen a lot, despite it not being a favourite, and also the other one that I've been in a staged production of. I like the Baz Luhrmann film a lot - not just for Harold Perrineau as Mercutio, but that certainly is a major draw.
Sir Thomas More - Just bardcamp, and I don't remember much of it except for the immigrants speech which I've encountered a few times since.
Taming of the Shrew - I don't think I've seen the original except for the bardcamp readthrough, but I like both Kiss Me Kate and 10 Things I Hate About You a lot.
Tempest - I went to an immersive version of this a few years ago, and several of the people I went with thought it was brilliant, but I didn't do a good job of picking up the right bits of performance and plot, so it didn't really hang together for me.
Timon of Athens - we did this for bardcamp with cue scripts (that is, each actor's script only has their own lines and the line immediately preceeding it) with none of us knowing the play beforehand. That was quite interesting, but very hard work for poorthemidnightgirl, who produced the scripts. I also saw it at the Globe. I get the impression that it's becoming a bit more popular now, having languished almost unperformed for quite a long time.
Titus Andronicus - This is probably my favourite of the tragedies, because it's just so very over the top. I saw a fantastic women-only version at Edinburgh Fringe about six years ago. There were pots of red paint around the edge of the stage and the paintbrushes were used as weapons, which could have been silly and hokey but actually worked and seemed quite gruesome. I've also seen the Anthony Hopkins film, and done at least one non-Bardcamp readthrough.
Troilus and Cressida - Just bardcamp, and I barely remember it.
Twelfth Night - This one gets done a lot as a readthrough, so I know it quite well, but I think I've only seen it once otherwise, on stage with Derek Jacobi as Malvolio
Two Gentlemen of Verona - Another problem play, another one I like because it's so wrong. I've done it as a non-bardcamp readthrough, but I don't think I've ever seen it staged.
Two Noble Kinsmen - Just bardcamp, and I barely remember it
Winter's Tale - I saw this in Cambridge a long time ago. I think thatcm might have been in it, but my memories are very hazy.
I'm actually quite surprised, having done this exercise, how few productions I've seen of a lot of these plays, especially that there are several I like a lot that I've never seen staged or filmed. I'm sure there are productions that I've forgotten, but even so, I might have to make some effort see more. My self image is definitely as somewhat of a Shakespeare geek (although obviously not nearly as much ascm or kerrypolka), but I'm now feeling as though reality doesn't quite bear that out.
cm and Bardcamp, if you count readthroughs, I've seen all of them at least once, although there are a few where my memory is lost in a haze of alcohol or tiredness or just plain terribleness. *cough* King John *cough*All's Well That Ends Well - I think I've done two readthroughs of this, both as part of Bardcamps. As with most of the problem plays, I like it a lot even though (or perhaps because) it's deeply uncomfortable. I don't think I've seen it staged or filmed, but would like to.
Antony and Cleopatra - another one I've only done as readthroughs.
cm played the lead both times. As You Like It - Do you know what's hilarious? Girls pretending to be boys. Do you know what's even more hilarious? Girls pretending to be boys pretending to be girls. I've seen the Kenneth Branagh film, and I have vague recollections of seeing it on stage, but can't for the life of me remember where or when.
Comedy of Errors - Do you know what's hilarious? Twins! Do you know what's even more hilarious? More twins! The Bardcamp readthrough is my only encounter with this play, and I don't remember much about it.
Coriolanus - Another bardcamp only one. I bounced off this one a bit, although I know several people who really rate it.
Cymbeline - Shakespeare's greatest hits! Plot points from Othello, As You Like It, R&J, and others, all mashed up into complete nonsense, that I have a real soft spot for. I've seen it staged at the Cambridge Arts Theatre, and done it in a couple of readthroughs, once of which I got to play Iachimo, which was tremendous fun.
Hamlet - I saw a rather good version of this a couple of years ago at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park that had only three actors. Obviously it was very heavily cut, but it worked rather well. Other productions I've seen include the Branagh film, two straight Bardcamp readthroughs, and our ridiculous and utterly glorious "Hamlet, the Pantomime". I suspect there have been others, but none are coming to mind right now.
Henry IV, Parts I & II - I've seen the BBC Shakespeare versions and the bardcamp readthrough, but I don't remember them terribly clearly
Henry V - I'm quite fond of this one. The first production I saw was in Richmond, which both
cm and themidnightgirl were in. That was quite soon after Ramesh & I had started dating, I think. I also saw it at the Barbican with mrph, and both the Branagh and the BBC Shakespeare film versions.Henry VI, Part I, II, and III - I remember these more clearly than the Henry IVs, mostly I think because I had a more substantial part in the Bardcamp readthrough, but they're still a little bit blurry. I've also watched the BBC Shakespeare versions.
Henry VIII - Again, just the BBC Shakespeare and the Bardcamp versions
Julius Caesar - Just Bardcamp
King John - Just Bardcamp
King Lear -
robert_jones and I saw this in Trinity gardens as part of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. The weather was perfect, which is to say, it started out reasonably sunny, but as the evening wore on the clouds rolled across and the heavens opened and it was a bit miserable but very very apt. Love's Labour's Lost - I saw this at the RSC with David Tennant, and it was a lot of fun. I would like to get to know this play better.
Macbeth - I saw this on stage with Patrick Stewart a few years ago, and also his film version. And I played Lady M in the second Bardcamp readthrough, which I really really enjoyed.
Measure for Measure - this is my favourite Shakespeare play. I've been in three or four readthroughs, and can't decide whether I enjoyed it more playing Angelo or the Duke. I saw it at the Globe a few years ago, and then more recently at the Donmar with
cuddlyviking, which we both thought was amazing, although obandsoller and robert_jones were less convinced.Merchant of Venice - I think I have seen this staged once, but I can't remember any details at all.
Merry Wives of Windsor - For quite a long time, this was the only one I'd never seen, as I missed the Bardcamp readthrough, but it's currently on at the Globe, and was broadcast to cinemas, so I went with my parents. It was better than I expected. Popcorn, but enjoyable popcorn, and well acted. I was particularly impressed with Falstaff, who managed to make the character distinctively himself, but not just channelling Brian Blessed.
Midsummer Night's Dream - Probably like may people, this was the first Shakespeare play I saw, and also probably the one I've seen the most often, although it's not a particular favourite. It's one of very few that I've actually performed in on stage rather than as a readthrough (just a bit part, about 25 years ago). It is however, responsible for my favourite example of the "Teen High School Shakespeare Adaptation Movie" genre, "Were the World Mine", which
leonato introduced me to a little while ago.Much Ado about Nothing - This is my favourite of the comedies, because I actually like Beatrice and Benedick as a couple. I don't think I've actually seen it on stage, but there have been loads of readthroughs, and I've watched both the Branagh and the Whedon films at least twice. I really like the Whedon one particuarly.
Othello - I've seen one straight production of this on stage, but I can't remember where or with whom. It was a fairly modern setting, all dark and grim and shouty. A few years ago
hjdoom and I saw Omkara, an excellent Bollywood retelling of the story. And kerrypolka and I saw "Red Velvet" starring Adrian Lester as Ira Aldridge, the first black actor to play Othello.Pericles - Just Bardcamp, and I can't really remember anything about it.
Richard II - This one I've seen quite a few times. BBC Shakespeare, and Bardcamp, and at the RSC with David Tennant, and the later BBC version The Hollow Crown. But I'm pretty sure the best version was the one I saw recently at the Globe, with the cast all women of colour..
Richard III - I first saw this when I was about ten, too young to appreciate it really, and don't remember much about that production. Since then there have been a lot of readthroughs of it, and I've seen the McKellan film, but I'm not sure I've actually seen it on stage again.
Romeo and Juliet - Another one that I've seen a lot, despite it not being a favourite, and also the other one that I've been in a staged production of. I like the Baz Luhrmann film a lot - not just for Harold Perrineau as Mercutio, but that certainly is a major draw.
Sir Thomas More - Just bardcamp, and I don't remember much of it except for the immigrants speech which I've encountered a few times since.
Taming of the Shrew - I don't think I've seen the original except for the bardcamp readthrough, but I like both Kiss Me Kate and 10 Things I Hate About You a lot.
Tempest - I went to an immersive version of this a few years ago, and several of the people I went with thought it was brilliant, but I didn't do a good job of picking up the right bits of performance and plot, so it didn't really hang together for me.
Timon of Athens - we did this for bardcamp with cue scripts (that is, each actor's script only has their own lines and the line immediately preceeding it) with none of us knowing the play beforehand. That was quite interesting, but very hard work for poor
themidnightgirl, who produced the scripts. I also saw it at the Globe. I get the impression that it's becoming a bit more popular now, having languished almost unperformed for quite a long time.Titus Andronicus - This is probably my favourite of the tragedies, because it's just so very over the top. I saw a fantastic women-only version at Edinburgh Fringe about six years ago. There were pots of red paint around the edge of the stage and the paintbrushes were used as weapons, which could have been silly and hokey but actually worked and seemed quite gruesome. I've also seen the Anthony Hopkins film, and done at least one non-Bardcamp readthrough.
Troilus and Cressida - Just bardcamp, and I barely remember it.
Twelfth Night - This one gets done a lot as a readthrough, so I know it quite well, but I think I've only seen it once otherwise, on stage with Derek Jacobi as Malvolio
Two Gentlemen of Verona - Another problem play, another one I like because it's so wrong. I've done it as a non-bardcamp readthrough, but I don't think I've ever seen it staged.
Two Noble Kinsmen - Just bardcamp, and I barely remember it
Winter's Tale - I saw this in Cambridge a long time ago. I think that
cm might have been in it, but my memories are very hazy.I'm actually quite surprised, having done this exercise, how few productions I've seen of a lot of these plays, especially that there are several I like a lot that I've never seen staged or filmed. I'm sure there are productions that I've forgotten, but even so, I might have to make some effort see more. My self image is definitely as somewhat of a Shakespeare geek (although obviously not nearly as much as
cm or kerrypolka), but I'm now feeling as though reality doesn't quite bear that out.
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