I've enjoyed theatrical and movie versions of several Shakespeare plays over the years. Including the '30s moviie version of As You Like It starring Elisabeth Bergner and a young Laurence Olivier. The good versions are the most likely to treat the text as a play to be performed and not Shakespeare to be worshiped.
It also helps if you don't take things too seriously. One of my favorite versions was a Hamlet-as-'50s-TV-sitcom done at the Maryland Renaissance Faire one year. Gertrude stole the show by constantly announcing that she was going to "go into the kitchen and bake some cookies." Until she announced that she was going to "go into the kitchen and -- drink heavily."
I like the Reduced Shakespeare Company's version of all the history plays Shakespeare did boiled down to a football game, with the crown as the football.
I saw McKellan doing Richard III live ... terrific! I also saw him doing a one-man show on Shakespeare, talking about performance he'd been in. I think the first live Sheakspeare I saw was in college, ca. 1971 - the Peter Brooke Dream ... which was wonderful.
I like the Reduced Shakespeare Company's version of all the history plays Shakespeare did boiled down to a football game, with the crown as the football.
"King Lear?? And he's disqualified for being fictional!"
I love the McKellen
Richard III
too. That's one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, since we spent five weeks on it in my Shakespeare on Film class.
One of my favorite versions was a Hamlet-as-'50s-TV-sitcom done at the Maryland Renaissance Faire one year.
I *love* that company! Leave it to Hamlet is one of their best ("Hello Mrs. Denmark, Hello Mr. Denmark..."). I also love their Henry V (pronounced, "Henry the Vee," natch).
Shakespeare in the Park is doing Midsummer Nights Dream this year. I'm seeing it, partly against my will - I've never enjoyed a comedy, on page, screen, or stage, and I've seen good performances. But I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I saw Othello (at the Globe) and Macbeth (Royal Shakespeare Company, in Stratford-upon-Avon) during my trip. Both were excellent.
Sweeney Todd poster is cool.
Going to see the Hairspray movie tomorrow.
At Fringe a number of years back I saw a guy do a one man MacBeth populated entirely by Simpsons characters. It was pretty hysterical.
I think Branagh's Henry V is the hands-down best movie adaptation of that play. koffunlikehisHamletkoff
The best Dream I ever saw was the Fairbanks Shakespeare Festival, done outdoors and with absolutely no regard for period. When the mechanicals screeched up in a dusty-ass Suburban bellowing "I am Henry the Eighth, I am" and with rude slogans scrawled in the dust on the vehicle, I knew it would be fun.
I've never read Henry V or seen any other adaptation other than Branagh's, but I really do love that movie. There are so many great moments in it--all of the various Henry/French Herald moments (especially after the battle), Brian Blessed chewing on those great lines about "the Paris balls" to the Dauphin at the French court, and Derek Jacobi as the Chorus throughout:
Oh, for a muse of fire
That wouldst ascend
The brightest heavens of invention.
Oh god, yes. I could watch that movie a hundred (more) times. The Emma Thompson scenes are watch from the hall for me, but they are in the text, too, so I guess I really can't blame Branagh.
