Disclaimer: I honestly slept through much of the first part
Our really great English advanced higher class went ot see a theatre production of Shakesperes tragedy King Lear at the Gilmorehill last night [27th Nov].
Info on what I saw:
http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/newsdesk/gi...ail.cfm?id=178
Although undoubtedly an excellent performance - especially on the night we saw it, (the cast were superb, especially considering that there were only five people playing every role!) I still feel really distant from what Shakespere is trying to say!
This play basically involves a going-senile King of Britain, who has three daughters he wants to divide his kingdom up between (political madness in the first plac I know, but there you go) - ONLY in Shakespere do you find the most ludicrous plots and storylines which would make todays drama scriptwriters cringe. Honestly! These plays - appropriate for their time as the most likel were - would have been laughed at and booed at and cheered at - REAL almost pantomime-type interation. Pure entertainment in Elizabethian times, yes, but it makes me wonder, you see a crowd of sombre pretentious gits sit in the audience - silently - for over two hours makes you wonder why we bother!
Shakespere clearly didn't write his plays to be pondered at and proded as if there were some kind of mystical illusive revelation within them! It was sheer entertainment - to impress and even flatter royalty of the day.
Who honestly doesn't see todays drama (you know; yer Eastenders; Neighbours; Corrie etc) as someting to be laughed off; applauded throught or even shouted at from the sofa!
Shakespere was the BBC ONE of his day!
:gum:
King Lear 
