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.

No, not the past tense of “eat”. That would be a silly thing to write about. Not that food doesn’t deserve to be written about, but I think you all know what food is and what it’s for.

ate (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
an ancient Greek goddess personifying the fatal blindness or recklessness that produces crime and the divine punishment that follows it.

ANTONY
…And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry ‘Havoc,’ and let slip the dogs of war;

- Julius Caesar (III.i)

I love that line! Talk about violent words and thoughts. Totally bad-ass.

by Barry Edelstein

Thinking Shakespeare: A How-to Guide for Student Actors, Directors, and Anyone Else Who Wants to Feel More Comfortable With the Bard

I was trying for a while to make a clever quip in iambic pentameter using the following word, but it’s rather late (or very early) and nothing betid. Please accept my most humble apologies.

betide (v.) IPA pronunciation: /bI‘taId/
happen, take place, befall

SCROOP
More health and happiness betide my liege
Than can my care-tun’d tongue deliver him.

- Richard II (III.ii)

Betid would most obviously be past tense of betide. Something somewhat clever came out afterall. Who’da thunk?

If there were a two word answer to the question “what do I have to do to be a great classical actor?” My answer would be LOVE LANGUAGE.

Of course there is no magic two word answer that tells you exactly how to be a great actor. Loving Language is a simple concept, but the unleashing the full potential of your words is anything but easy. There’s no way to shortcut doing all your text analysis just because you think you love language. Text work is there to make sure that you use the text well. Having seen plenty of both good and bad productions of Shakespeare with good and bad actors, the good actors who speak well are easy to spot because they love language! It’s not enough just to talk the text. There is so much meaning in this text that you really have to dissect it and make sense of it to the audience.

In our odd American culture, we have been taught to distrust language. Words are misleading. Legal jargon surrounds everything and none of it has meaning. We have forgotten how to express ourselves using words. These days people express themselves through acts of violence after holding expression for too long. But Shakespeare characters are expressive! The words they use are their biggest tool for self-expression. Words live in the body, and come from the heart, the gut, not just the head.
Words, feelings, and thoughts are all one.
This is why there’s no subtext in Shakespeare. What the character thinks, feels, and speaks are all the same. And if they’re lying or being ironic – they’ll probably tell you!

Remember to love language. Use the words when you speak! From Will Shakespeare to Neil Simon, use your words effectively and you’ll be a better actor. An audience doesn’t care if you can make yourself cry if we don’t care what you’re saying. Love language like you would in any serious relationship. You have to love, respect, use, play with, learn about, don’t neglect it, and have fun with it.

Not Happily. Haply!

haply (adv.) IPA pronunciation: /’hæp.li/
perhaps, maybe, by chance, with luck

CORDELIA
…Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
-King Lear (I.i)

Often when people come across this word the think it is “happily” contracted. NO! This “hap” is related to the hap in perhaps. If you read it as “happily” then the meaning can be completely different.

NOW YOU KNOW