(To the casual reader of Shakespeare: this might not apply to you directly, but remember that to enjoy these works you have to know what they mean too. And when you are an audience member who has done some research, seeing an actor who has done his share as well will make the experience all the more rewarding)

Shakespeare’s use of language can be a little daunting. The words often mean different things than you think, there can be words you’ve never heard before, and the grammar isn’t always what you’d expect. You will often hear that an audience at a good production of a Shakespeare play will only really grasp a third (ish) of what is really being said.

Actors/Directors – THIS DOES NOT GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO GET LAZY!!!

To the actors: just because the audience doesn’t always know what you’re talking about NEVER means that you don’t always have to know. You don’t spout off words and facts on a usual basis that you have no idea what they mean, do you? Don’t get smart here. Even if you do, you are trying to achieve a certain effect by using those words and you know what effect that is. Maybe YOU don’t know what Shakespeare is saying, but the CHARACTER knows exactly what s/he’s trying to say. And since YOU are playing the CHARACTER it is essential that you find out what everything means. And not just your own lines. You need to know what is being said to you, and about you. If you are playing off someone else’s line but you haven’t bothered to realize that then you’ll be missing something! Not that you have to do all this work alone. Ask your scene partner what it is that they’re saying to you.

Directors: it would be absolutely insane of me to suggest that you look up what everything means in the entire play for all the characters… so I will. It’s a gargantuan task, but you as a director most likely have had something to do with the cuts made to the script and you need to know exactly what is being said and why and what significance those cuts you made have to the story/characters. In addition to that, the more familiar you are with the text itself will give you a better feel for what the actors are doing, or what they should be doing. And if they haven’t done their homework, you will most certainly know. Then you can call them out on it. Busted!

When working on one of the Bard’s plays, you can expect to do a lot of research. What do these words mean? What is this place he’s talking about? What is this reference to Greek mythology? All these and many more are things you need to answer, and it can’t all be done in the rehearsal room. Plan to spend plenty of extra time trying to figure this puzzle out. And remember that it is a puzzle! Not some boring research report. It’s a journey full of surprises, discoveries, and edumacation. It can even be a good way to bond with your cast. Research party! Chips, Dip, Dictionary and Script!

Continuing with the theme of words that are spelled and pronounced the same as modern words but have different meanings, I give you -

approve (v.) IPA Pronunciation:
try, prove, put to the test

CORNELIUS
I left out one thing which the queen confess’d.
Which must approve thee honest…

- Cymbeline (V.v)

I really like this word. There is a certain weight it carries with the sounds that are used: the push of the P, followed by the ooo of the U and the smooth V. And you’re not just proving something, you are a-proving it. Like it’s more than just finding a reference for what you’ve just said… you need to put it to the test with some action. Kind of like this…

“I know Kung Fu.”
“…. Show me.”

Here’s a fun word. There’s nothing like odd names for body parts that you don’t really care about.

dewlap (n.) IPA Pronunciation: /`d(j)ulæp/
folds of loose skin around the neck

PUCK
And when she drinks, against her lips I bob
And on her wither’d dewlap pour the ale.
-A Midsummer Night’s Dream (II.i)

It’s a lovely image that comes to mind, isn’t it? Which is a great tool to use in good storytelling. This is the sort of verbal image that Shakespeare provides to guide the artist onstage to “paint a picture with words”. Awesome, dude.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope you all are conviving with your friends, family, and/or loved ones. Now that you all have gift certificates and some cash on hand, it’s a good time to reward yourself with a little Shakespeare! Check out the links I’ve given you and buy a good book or movie. :-p

Through all my searching, I have found that Mr. Shakespeare only uses the word “Christmas” in any of his plays a mere three times. Not too surprising, I suppose, since none of his plays seem to take place around this time of year. It didn’t make for good action. Here are the uses of the word:

At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth;
-Love’s Labours Lost (I.i)

I see the trick on’t: here was a consent,
Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
-Love’s Labours Lost (V.ii)

Marry, I will; let them play it. Is not a comonty a Christmas gambold or a tumbling-trick?
-The Taming of the Shrew (Intro, scene ii)

So it wasn’t Shakespeare’s favorite time of year. That’s okay! Maybe he was turned off to it by the immense commercialism of the season. Those last two quotes refer to Christmas theatrical events: pageants put on for townspeople perhaps by churches, and might not have included the best actors and writing which might be why Will didn’t like them so much. Shakespeare doesn’t refer to this Christmas event in a positive tone. The Taming of the Shrew Scene continues as such:

SLY. Marry, I will; let them play it. Is not a comonty a
Christmas gambold or a tumbling-trick?
PAGE. No, my good lord, it is more pleasing stuff.

It’s hip to be a square! But not this kind. This isn’t a geometric shape, but maybe a way to get your nose into a different shape.

square (v.) IPA Pronunciation: /skwer/
to quarrel, fight

PUCK
But, they do square, that all their elves for fear
Creep into acorn-cups and hide them there.

- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (II.i)

This is another word that is pronounced and spelled the same way as a word you are familiar with (just like the previous WOTD), but this meaning wouldn’t be immediately known to you just by seeing or hearing it. Hopefully in the play you are watching the actor will be a good storyteller and let you in on what the Puck he’s talking about.

In the links section I added something that say “Bard Blog Recommends…” which will take you to a mini store that has a bunch of recommended items related to Shakespeare. I will be slowly adding items to it as I review them, or remember that I haven’t added an item yet. Most are things I own.

So when you’re doing your Shakespeare shopping, you’ll have one convenient place to look with a bunch of good products.

This is one of this words that will make sense when used in context. But by itself it’s one of those words that make you think “WTF mate?” It is pronounced just like the word with the same spelling that means “joined together”, which could possibly add to the confusion.

union (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
pearl

CLAUDIUS
And in the cup an union shall he throw,
Richer than that which four successive kings
In Denmark’s crown have worn….

- HAMLET (V.ii)

Again, in context, when you’re seeing a production of Hamlet and Claudius is holding a pearl saying this, the logical conclusion you’ll make is “Ah, union must be a pearl”, OR “I don’t know what the heck he just called that, but it’s a pearl…”

You can read all the books about Shakespeare you’d like, take tons of classes, but on top of all that the way to be an expert on the Bard is to read more of his works! There’s no better way to learn about how he uses language than to see it in action. Many literary and storytelling devices are found in multiple plays, and when you find it multiple times you start to realize WHY it is effective dramatically, rather than just recognizing that it is.

Now remember that Shakespeare didn’t write his plays so that people could read and study them. They are PLAYS to be PERFORMED! So go out and SEE them! When there’s one playing near you: go see it. If you come across a movie version that’s new to you: rent it. Even finding an audio-book version is better than nothing. These words were meant to be spoken by one and heard by another. Shakespeare wrote for live theatre, not novels.

Now before the academics kill me, I will say that there’s nothing wrong with reading Shakespeare’s works and studying them, dissecting them, discussing them. It is in fact essential to do this so that you understand it while you are involved in the production of a play. But just don’t forget that it is a piece of theatre and you’re missing much of the meaning if you don’t go out and see it. Bite me, Harold Bloom.