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s4llym4nder's review
4.0
“We’ve talked of possibilities, not rules, / of questions, balances, not absolutes. / So are there any rules? Yes. Try to find / what goes on in the text and ask yourself / if you can use it. You must not reject it / until you’ve smelled it out and asked the questions. / Never forget the verse is there to help you. / It can be heightened, and yet very often / it’s close to our own humdrum human speech. / Which of you noticed while I have been talking / that I what I’ve just said was in bad blank verse?”
So often I’m sucked up in looking at Shakespeare through the eyes of an English student rather than considering the text through the lenses through which it was originally meant to be perceived: the eyes and minds of actors and audience members. Barton’s guide is one of the most thought-provoking and exploratory narratives I’ve read about Shakespeare — it’s taken my curiosity and passion about Shakespeare as both an actor and a thinker to newer, unexpected levels!
So often I’m sucked up in looking at Shakespeare through the eyes of an English student rather than considering the text through the lenses through which it was originally meant to be perceived: the eyes and minds of actors and audience members. Barton’s guide is one of the most thought-provoking and exploratory narratives I’ve read about Shakespeare — it’s taken my curiosity and passion about Shakespeare as both an actor and a thinker to newer, unexpected levels!
katescholastica's review
4.0
I really want to find the documentary series this is based on, because it offered some FASCINATING insights into Shakespeare performance, especially in the 1980s — post decline of imperial Britain, pre the rise of the internet and mass media.
ashlynregan's review
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
This was required for my Shakespeare class, but I find it riveting and would read it for pleasure again. A great companion to a Shakespeare play.
sirrobert's review
5.0
Fantastic. Judge this book by its cover. I kind of did and it exceeded expectations.
Adapted from a 1984 televised series you can find on YouTube, I enjoyed having the videos handy to watch the actors demonstrate. Actors like Ian McKellen, Judy Dench, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley...
It's a dual masterclass in acting and lit analysis, always vivid and alive and to a rich worthwhile point, typical of the RSC folks. If the concept sounds interesting, you won't be disappointed.
Adapted from a 1984 televised series you can find on YouTube, I enjoyed having the videos handy to watch the actors demonstrate. Actors like Ian McKellen, Judy Dench, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley...
It's a dual masterclass in acting and lit analysis, always vivid and alive and to a rich worthwhile point, typical of the RSC folks. If the concept sounds interesting, you won't be disappointed.
grahamiam's review
2.0
Not sure why someone would read this - the gist of it is available as a TV program either on DVD or on YouTube. Considering how important voice and word stressing and pronunciation are to Shakespeare, why read the book when you can actually hear the examples with the video?
iseultofireland's review
3.0
A good guide full of sound advice but, as a lot of other reviewers have pointed out, significantly less useful without also watching the videos.
mcharter's review
3.0
Very good as a companion to the TV series of the same name; if I had to choose one (DVD vs. book), I'd recommend viewing the series over reading about it, however. The "Exploring a Character" chapter suffers the most from not being able to view David Suchet's and Patrick Stewart's interpretations of Shylock.
tscott907's review
5.0
Used as the textbook for my Shakespeare in Performance class. Some chapters function much better when watched in conjunction with the gloriously eighties television miniseries, which you can watch here.
John Barton is so smart and lovely - we called him "Shakespeare Bob Ross" in class - and this has so much great stuff in it!
John Barton is so smart and lovely - we called him "Shakespeare Bob Ross" in class - and this has so much great stuff in it!
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