"To sleep, perchance to wake up in the middle of the night with a full bladder." Who can forget the Bard's classic lines, many drawn from some of the most famous soliloquies ("the act of talking alone") spread across Shakespeare's 38 plays? In this compendium of speeches, nicely interwoven with play-specific commentary and general observations on Elizabethan stage conventions and language, a troupe of male and female actors of various ages deliver a dozen-plus soliloquies, ranging from Henry V's stirring call to arms ("once more unto the breach") and Lady Macbeth's tortured guilt ("out, damned spot!") to Richard III's brilliant opening speech ("now is the winter of our discontent") and Hamlet's famous contemplation of suicide ("to be or not to be"). Listening to these beautiful excerpts--linguistically rich in metaphor, simile, and finely tuned trope--we are reminded of Shakespeare's fascination with the human condition, particularly with our dark dichotomy as creatures of both extraordinary compassion and unspeakable evil. His phrases pepper the English language, his characters hold permanent places in our consciousness, his subjects are timeless. Sure to be a wonderful introduction for casual viewers, a pleasant refresher for buffs, and a boon to school and community theater groups, Shakespeare's Soliloquies is definitely recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)
Shakespeare's Soliloquies
(2002) 40 min. $24.95. Monterey Video. PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 1-56994-190-4. Volume 17, Issue 3
Shakespeare's Soliloquies
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