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gringoley's review against another edition
2.0
Classic Shakespeare. Not my favorite but even a bad one is better than most peoples best. True love, truthy love, and betrayal with the customary woman dressed as a man (which at that time meant a male actor dressed as a woman dressed as a man??!)
fenaena's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite but enjoyed seeing the early establishment of many of his later themes, characters, and constellations.
alukemartin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
pilarw2000's review against another edition
2.0
"Love is blind," Shakespeare tells us in this play. Yes, indeed, and fortunately for us, this isn't the only thing he wrote.
ejreadswords's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all.”
In the continued adventures of life at Adler, I chose my first Shakespeare monologue to tackle and work on for class, and it’s Proteus’ “Even as one heat another heat expels” from Act 2, Scene 4. I fell in love with how direct, honest, and ridiculous the monologue was as I was looking online — and it was a change of speed from the contemptuous monologue I auditioned for the Conservatory with (Edmund’s “Now gods, stand up for bastards” from King Lear). I knew I wanted to work on a comedy monologue after auditioning with two tragic characters (Edmund and Con from Stupid Fucking Bird).
And even if this is considered “lesser” Shakespeare, lesser Shakespeare is better than most people’s best. To tell you the truth, I really enjoyed reading this. The male characters are all so freakin’ stupid (Lance and Speed are rather insightful, though), but the female characters possess all the wisdom and patience to just deal with the chutzpah that is these horny, conniving and/or oblivious men.
Poor Julia. Heart aches for her. What a character, and what hot rocks she makes herself walk over for Proteus. Girl, he does NOT deserve it!
Julia, as Sebastian (Act 4, Sc. 4)
“Because methinks that she loved you as well
As you do love your lady Sylvia.
She dreams on him that has forgot her love;
You dote on her that cares not for your love.
’Tis pity love should be so contrary,
And thinking on it makes me cry ‘Alas.’”
I agree with the discourse that Act 5 is rather, uh, concerning. It’s very misogynistic and I cannot believe it just ends “happily ever after.” In Act 4 and 5, I found myself laughing just at Shakespeare’s wondrous wordplay and the messy entanglement he gets his characters involved with — it’s a great setup, but boy, that denouement… the gall of you, William! Male friendship can't excuse EVERYTHING.
A sincere thought I had while reading was, “so many iconic English expressions or phrases must’ve come from this play?” Just incredible phrases like, “Love is blind,” or “And seal the bargain with a holy kiss” (maybe that’s not iconic, but I’m pretty sure there was a Disney Channel show that referenced this?).
I’m really excited to dive into my Proteus monologue. He’s such a fuckboy! And I can’t say that I’m much of that. But it’ll be fun to lean into.
In the continued adventures of life at Adler, I chose my first Shakespeare monologue to tackle and work on for class, and it’s Proteus’ “Even as one heat another heat expels” from Act 2, Scene 4. I fell in love with how direct, honest, and ridiculous the monologue was as I was looking online — and it was a change of speed from the contemptuous monologue I auditioned for the Conservatory with (Edmund’s “Now gods, stand up for bastards” from King Lear). I knew I wanted to work on a comedy monologue after auditioning with two tragic characters (Edmund and Con from Stupid Fucking Bird).
And even if this is considered “lesser” Shakespeare, lesser Shakespeare is better than most people’s best. To tell you the truth, I really enjoyed reading this. The male characters are all so freakin’ stupid (Lance and Speed are rather insightful, though), but the female characters possess all the wisdom and patience to just deal with the chutzpah that is these horny, conniving and/or oblivious men.
Poor Julia. Heart aches for her. What a character, and what hot rocks she makes herself walk over for Proteus. Girl, he does NOT deserve it!
Julia, as Sebastian (Act 4, Sc. 4)
“Because methinks that she loved you as well
As you do love your lady Sylvia.
She dreams on him that has forgot her love;
You dote on her that cares not for your love.
’Tis pity love should be so contrary,
And thinking on it makes me cry ‘Alas.’”
I agree with the discourse that Act 5 is rather, uh, concerning. It’s very misogynistic and I cannot believe it just ends “happily ever after.” In Act 4 and 5, I found myself laughing just at Shakespeare’s wondrous wordplay and the messy entanglement he gets his characters involved with — it’s a great setup, but boy, that denouement… the gall of you, William! Male friendship can't excuse EVERYTHING.
A sincere thought I had while reading was, “so many iconic English expressions or phrases must’ve come from this play?” Just incredible phrases like, “Love is blind,” or “And seal the bargain with a holy kiss” (maybe that’s not iconic, but I’m pretty sure there was a Disney Channel show that referenced this?).
I’m really excited to dive into my Proteus monologue. He’s such a fuckboy! And I can’t say that I’m much of that. But it’ll be fun to lean into.
cagebox's review against another edition
2.0
This is one of Shakespeare’s most readable plays but also one of his worst. The protagonist Proteus is undoubtedly Shakespeare’s least likable comedic lead, and outside of Launce and Crab the play is low on laughs. The story, especially the ending, is more messed up than it is funny and is one of Shakespeare’s weaker efforts.
tumblyhome_caroline's review against another edition
2.0
All I can say about this is that I would rather have done housework than read it… and that is saying something. An early work by an obviously busy Shakespeare who had better things to be doing. Two stars because it was saved by the dog…
massaglia's review against another edition
4.0
Two Gentlemen of Verona
Prep resources:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plots/twops.html
http://www.shakespeareswords.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Gentlemen_of_Verona
Considered by some, Shakespeare’s first play it’s also considered his weakest. I watched this version of the play: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086492/ Even though it isn’t one of his most profound plays, I was entertained by the plot and the acting. The play is also a part in the movie 'Shakespeare in Love' - which I’ll watch again after this project.
The themes of the play range from friendship and courtship to the blindness of love to forgiveness. As with all of the plays, I enjoy the language - how rich, full of metaphor and meaning each line presents.
Some quotes I like:
"That man that hath a tongue, I say is no man, if with his tongue he cannot win a woman.”
You, minion, are too saucy.”
“What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do. It cannot speak,
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it.”
“At first I did adore a twinkling star
But now I worship a celestial sun”
'I leave myself, my friends and all, for
love.
Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me,
Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,
War with good counsel, set the world at nought;
Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.”
"Nay, then, he should be blind, and being blind
How could he see his way to seek out you?”
"They do not love that do not show their love.”
"What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do; it cannot speak,
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it."
Prep resources:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plots/twops.html
http://www.shakespeareswords.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Gentlemen_of_Verona
Considered by some, Shakespeare’s first play it’s also considered his weakest. I watched this version of the play: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086492/ Even though it isn’t one of his most profound plays, I was entertained by the plot and the acting. The play is also a part in the movie 'Shakespeare in Love' - which I’ll watch again after this project.
The themes of the play range from friendship and courtship to the blindness of love to forgiveness. As with all of the plays, I enjoy the language - how rich, full of metaphor and meaning each line presents.
Some quotes I like:
"That man that hath a tongue, I say is no man, if with his tongue he cannot win a woman.”
You, minion, are too saucy.”
“What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do. It cannot speak,
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it.”
“At first I did adore a twinkling star
But now I worship a celestial sun”
'I leave myself, my friends and all, for
love.
Thou, Julia, thou hast metamorphosed me,
Made me neglect my studies, lose my time,
War with good counsel, set the world at nought;
Made wit with musing weak, heart sick with thought.”
"Nay, then, he should be blind, and being blind
How could he see his way to seek out you?”
"They do not love that do not show their love.”
"What, gone without a word?
Ay, so true love should do; it cannot speak,
For truth hath better deeds than words to grace it."
smaezane's review against another edition
1.0
Is this a comedy? Is this a tragedy? Or, is it the timeless tale of men being absolute idiots and everything still somehow working out in their favor?