Exploring the intersection of popular culture and classical tragedy, Louis Fantasia offers insightful essays on five significant plays, including works by Euripides, Shakespeare, and O'Neill. He argues for the relevance of tragedy's lessons in modern times, delving into themes of suffering, responsibility, and identity. Each play is analyzed within a contemporary framework, highlighting their enduring impact and the insights they provide to today's audiences. Fantasia's work invites readers to reconsider the value of tragedy in understanding human experience.
Instant Shakespeare offers a straightforward, accessible and practical set of
ground rules for performing Shakespeare. These enable performers, directors
and teachers to demystify Shakespeare's complex language and perform his plays
in a clear, fresh and unpretentious manner.
Exploring the world of Shakespeare's characters, this book delves into the complexities of their personalities and relationships. It provides insights into the motivations and emotions that drive these iconic figures, highlighting their beauty and flaws. Through analysis and practical exercises, readers gain a deeper understanding of performing Shakespeare, emphasizing the nuances that bring these timeless characters to life on stage. The text serves as both a guide for actors and an appreciation of Shakespeare's enduring impact on theatre and literature.
"When we speak of Shakespeare's 'villains' we think we know who comes immediately to mind: Iago, Richard III, Edmund in Lear, Aaron the Moor, Lady Macbeth, etc. People who do bad things to nice people. But what about Macbeth, Caliban, Regan & Goneril? Evil? Victims? What about Bolingbroke and Margaret? Puck? Is Cassius a villain? Leontes? What makes a villain, as opposed to a monster, crook, or scoundrel? When does villainy descend into "evil"? Is vengeance evil? Is intent enough? Does the body count matter? Is bad kingship evil? Where do Shakespeare's fathers fit on this spectrum? Shakespeare spreads before us a panoply of evil, villainy and amorality - of characters doing bad things for good reasons, bad things for bad reasons, and bad things for no reason at all. What are we to make of this world view where some villains are punished and others seem to be rewarded; where mischievousness can quickly turn violent, and where an entire world can be brought down by someone's willful insistence on having one's way. This is the world explored in 'Playing Shakespeare's Villains,' the second in the series of 'Playing Shakespeare's Characters'"--
Playing Shakespeare’s Lovers examines Shakespeare’s romantic characters from multiple perspectives. Contributing actors, directors, educators and scholars bring diverse and wide-ranging insights into the motives, context, history and challenges of performing Shakespeare’s "infinite variety" of lovers. The volume begins with an introductory essay, followed by brief essays and interviews, on various characters within the world of Shakespeare’s lovers.
Talking Shakespeare' is a collection of essays on Shakespeare's plays and politics and their impact in the world today. Originally given as provocative talks on Shakespeare at some of the most prestigious universities, conferences, and theatres around the world, they reflect on the author's more than thirty-year career as a producer, director and educator. The essays provide a unique and personal look into multiple aspects of Shakespeare's world-and ours
