(no subject)

[oakenguy]

This is going to be one of those days where I post a bunch of small, not-related-at-all things. Just to warn you ahead of time. Adjust your filters accordingly. There might even be pictures.

Post the first: there's this series called "The Sourcebooks Shakespeare". Each book contains a different play, but also has notes on different performances, and other chapters like "In the Age of Shakespeare" and "A Voice Coach's Perspective".

I haven't gotten past page 3, and that's because of the other treat bundled with the books: a CD. A CD which has selected excerpts from the play done several times, by different actors, so you can compare the different approaches.

Which in this case means: Paul Robeson. Doing Othello. Next to John Kani's Othello. Jose Ferrer's Iago, beside Anton Lesser's Iago.

God, it's totally fascinating. John Kani's African-born accent, the subtle hesitations in his speech that're exactly like someone who really isn't good with the language and is trying to choose each word carefully totally contrasts with Paul Robeson, whose voice is like a pissed-off mountain that's about to DROP on you. And they both work!

Damn. I need to own this CD.

Comments

[aethelflaed2.livejournal.com]

*bounces*

Oooooooooooo! Me wants!

[ursula-lear.livejournal.com]

That CD sounds soooo cool.

[coscaram.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I've never heard the John Kani/Anton Lesser version. I was lucjy enough to see James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer. They opened in Boston and the show just didn't work. They closed for two weeks, brought in Zoe Caldwell to redirect and re-opened. It was amazing!

Is this a whole series?

[corniecorn.livejournal.com]

oooOOOOOOOoooo! how COOL!

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Mmhmm....there are 7 out so far; Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar and this one.

(A slightly odd list, now that I look at it...Much Ado, but no Lear or Tempest?)

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

I envy you with this book and CD ;)