Happy All Hallow's Day from Will

The witchynge hour waits upon us, groundlyngs! Dost have a costume in minde for this day?

Will's formula for comedy

Kit and Ben didst present me with this image last night, to reminde me of mine strategie in The Comedy of Errours. Ha!

Need an insult? Will has you covered!

*sigh* 'Tis Monday. If thou needest an insult for those that do offend thee, Your Will has thee cover'd, groundlyngs. Feel free to tagge or share.

Will's yearbook: Nathan Field

Here thou canst perceive another leaf of Will, his yearbooke, groundlyngs. This is the young actour Nathan Field, who hath a reputation for wooinge of the ladies.

Words, words, words...

Words, words words: Betimes when your Will doth set his quill to page, I do use repetition or strings wordes -- to the point of superfluitie -- to emphasize poesie or thought or emotion. Here, thou canst observe an example Dost recognize the speaker?

 

Dear Young Will,

Young Will, it seems to me that the manner in which your plays are performed today is much different than it was in your day.  In your day, the players played much more to the audience than they do today, even in the most dramatic scenes.  I don’t know if you’ve seen the move Anonymous, but that’s how your plays are shown being presented.  Very different from today’s wall between the audience and the actors.  If this is in fact accurate, I hate to say that I like today’s more serious manner of presentation better.  What say you?

 

 

Signed,

No Herod Fan

 

 

Dear No Herod,

Your Will doth enjoie thy querie as it poseth manie potentialities for debate.  I shouldst note I am not a fan of your modern film “Anonymous,” though Ben Jonson doth find it to be a moste excellente satiricall comedie. 

I hath posted here for thee the imprinte of the first quarto version of mine playe Romeo and Juliet.  Whilst I do not recommend this, as it hath been secreted from the theatre and is not mine final voice, thou canst observe that the play was belovéd by the crowd, who met its final words “with great applause.” If the groundlyngs be not content, the playe wouldst not have been performed so manie times.

Your Will doth sympathise with thy concern.  Thou might recall Hamlet’s words to the troupe in his play, "I would have such a fellow whipped for o'er-doing Termagant, it out-Herods Herod.  Pray you, avoid it.”  Your Will hath seen such performances as do give you grief, goode Sir Epstein, suche as the medieval mysterie playes Hamlet doth so despise. This is like to be a problem in thine own modern age, methinks, where some actors and some styles do seem as Herod, such as would split the ears of groundlyngs.

As to your Will, I do encourage this…what ye moderns do terme presentational methode of actinge in mine comedies most oft as it aideth in the humour.  ‘Tis different from the representational ye observe in mine tragedies, though I do use both methods in mine tragedies, as in the epilogue of Romeo and Juliet.  ‘Tis, methinks, most oft a method suited to purpose.  If the audience doth applaude, your Will hath fared well, in your modern age or mine owne.

Eternally Yours,
Will



Sneak a peek in Shakespeare's yearbook

Ha! Your Will didst finde his yearbooke this daye, groundlyngs.  I shall trie to share the leaves with thee as mine printer alloweth.

Will's Daily Life

As I didst cross the Thames this eve, it came to me that ye moderns might longe for a glimpse of my daily lyfe.  When one doth neede to cross the Thames, 'tis not always best to cross the bridge, as it can be most crowded betimes.  'Tis sounde, then, to find a goode ferrymann to cross the river.  If thou art new to Londoun, 'tis also sounde to barter price before ye board as the rate doth vary from ferryman to ferryman. 

Sonnet 97

A sonnet for thee, faire gentles, one that doth make mention of the changyng of the seasouns... Thou canst read a version here, if it aide thee:

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/97.html

Love's woes

 

Good day to thee, deare groundlyngs! Doth recall who hath utter'd these wordes?

Comedy versus tragedy venn diagram

Good day to thee, groundlyngs!  I hath posted an image such as this when I didst begin mine blogging, but mine printer didst not make so fine an image as this thou now perceiveth.  I pray it doth aide thee to understand the difference between your Will's tragedie and comedie.

Shakespeare's daily life

I thought ye moderns mighst longe to see some of the items your Will doth see or use in Londontown.  Though London be faire at times, the smells doth overwhelme those with gentle natures, so that some gentiles doth carry the pomander with its fragrante bouquet of herbes and flowers. This pomander thus does battle with the smells of the dung, the butchers' offal, the dirt and sweat that do linger in our streets.

Bon weekend from Will

'Zwounds, but your Will is gratefull it is Friday. I gather ye moderns feel the same? I am off to the Mermaide with my brothers in theatre, and I do wish thee the verie best for this Saturday and Sunday to come.

Sonnet 1

Your Will didst think thou might longe for some poesie this day, faire gentles, so here is my sonnet one. I do understande mine language can be difficult for ye moderns, so here is a place that doth translate well for thee:

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/1detail.html

A battle of wits

A battle of wits, groundlyngs! These wordes do come from a playe less-performed in your modern age, though the storie be popular in mine owne...

Test thy mettle

Test thy mettle! Who hath utter'd these lines?

Advice from Will

My deare groundlyngs, Betimes ye moderns look to mine workes for advice or comfort in thy moments of need. Your Will hath determinéd 'twould aide thee to put some of mine wordes here on mine wall. Behold: I have for thee: advice fit for a kinge.

Today: "Keep thy foot out of brothels, thy hand out of plackets*." -- from mine KING LEAR, 3.4

*(a placket is an opening in a gowne or tunic that do give way to the secretes and privitees)

A recipe from Titus Andronicus

 

Ha! Kit hath created this recipe from mine playe Titus Andronicus. 'Tis most amusyng to your Will.

The Scottish playe

Mine Scottish playe is rife with bloode, is't not, groundlyngs

Need an insult? Will has you covered

Needest thou an insult, groundlyngs?  Mayhap somme Ben Jonson doth annoy thee? Feel free to share this image or tagge those that annoy thee @Shakesblogging on Facebook.  ;)

The aubade from Romeo and Juliet

 

 

Good daye, gentiles. I hadst mused that thou might finde some intereste in the aubade, which be a lover’s morning song or lament at parting in the morning. I didst use the aubade in Romeo and Juliet, 3.5, when the younge lovers do parte. Your Will doth understande ye moderns hath adapted mine playe to daunce, and I hath soughte out the musick for this aubade and will post it here for thee.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAjjUOgvjHA



Shakespeare's London

My deare groundlyngs, as I hath walked through Londoun tonight, your Will didst perceive ye moderns might want other image of mine towne. Here, thou mayest see Newgate and the poore soules who hath died there, Smithfield, where the yeoman do drive theyr beastes to market, and Sainte Bartholomew's hospital.

Need advice? Will has you covered!

Dear Young Will,

If you could have done anything different with your life, would you have?

Signed,
Regrets, I’ve had a few

Dear Regrets,

Thou poseth a querie for the ages. For when man doth look back on his former dayes, ‘tis a strong man indeed who hath no regrets. As for your Will, there may be suche moments as give me pause, yet I canst not dwelle on them for long. Such as we are made of, such we be.

Eternally Yours,
Will


Dear Young Will,

One of my friends is really into LARP-ing. How can he ever hope to find a girlfriend?

Signed,
The Errant Knight’s Friend


Dear Errant Knight’s Friend,

 Forgive your Will, as he didst have to inquire what thou meanest when thou doth write of LARP-nyge. I didst finde ye moderns do engage in the tournaments, commedia dell’arte, and make-believe. Your Will is most confus’d that the ladies wouldst not rewarde suche trials a man woulde undertake to winne his lady’s favour. Your Will doth believe a friend should bear his friend’s infirmities; mayhap thou canst aide him to woo a lady who doth also LARP? I tell thee, a buxom maide in the fashion of Will’s daye is a fair maide indeed. ;)

Eternally Yours,
Will



Bigge bawdynge in Londountown... ;)

Will is ill...

O my deare groundlyngs…I do but sense that I have an ague. If canst not rouse me from mine bed soone, I shall call on the Doctor of physicke, though I do loathe to carry me hence. He hath such strange instruments on the table of his chambers, and I do but shiver at the sight of them. And what of thee? Dost have a remedie thou seekest when thou art feverish?

Good eve, groundlyngs. Kit and Your Will hath passed a curious eve at the Boar’s Head, where we didst share in a plate of birdes steeped in wine. We didst make merrie over draughts of ale, and mused over those tales of Ovid’s whiche woulde make for good theatre. 

Of a soudaine, we heard the sounde of trunk hitting threshholde of the tavern, and in didst walk the strangest manne your Will hath perceivéd in Old Tom’s Boar’s Heade in manie a day. ‘Twas a Frencheman, by his dress so branded. In his arms, he didst cradle a smalle dogge.

His accent, though stronge, didst not mar his matter: “Hast any rooms, good sir?”

Old Tom grunted. “I brooke no dogges in here.”

The Frencheman’s wearie face didst betray his heart. “What if I pay thee for her lodge? My Michel will cause no worrie.”

“I mean thou, Frenchman,” Old Tom snapped. “Your tuffet dog is less bother than you or any French.”

“Minde him not,” Kit interrupted. “Thou canst sup with us, Frenchman. If Old Tom will not grant thee lodging, we canst direct thee to the Blackfriars, where thou are bounde to finde better service.”

Tom grunted again and left us.

“Merci,” the Frenchman pulled up seat. “I am Pierre de Larivey, poet. Manie in France do admire my playes.”

“Christopher Marlowe,” replied Kit. “And what doth bring thee to oure shores?”

“I hath heard of your Englishe theatre,” Larivey explained. “So I come to see some of the Englishe playes.”

Ah, groundlyngs! How Kit and I didst laugh, to the confusion of poor Larivey. ‘Twas a man well met indeede!

Test thy mettle

Dost know the answer, groundlyngs? 'Tis a fitting playe for this month of October...

Sonnet 66 and anaphora

My deare groundlyngs, Your Will is very fonde of certain forms of poesie, anaphora (an Anaphora (Greek: ἀναφορά, "carrying back") being one of these. Thou canst observe anaphora here in mine sonnet 66:

A recipe from Kit

Your Will hath passed a fine eve at Kit's lodging, where we were entertained with manie fine tales from Kyd and Nashe. Kit didst make for us some birde steeped in wine and hath offered ye moderns his recipe here. I do but think that betwixt all the wine and merrimente, the dinner was the lesser parte of the evening, groundlyngs. :)

O, to be but gloves on her hands...

Win Shakesblogging stein -- ours exclusively!

Let us have a game, groundlyngs! I shall award one of thee this stein with mine image of Bankside, with the bear and bull-baityng rings, the theatre, and the Thames of my day. All thou needs do is to rewrite mine short posie in thine owne wordes

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

2 WITCH. Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,—
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Try to write these lines eight, preserving mine meter and rhyme scheme. Thou canst post thy work here. Winner shall claim the prize Saturday, the 20th of October. Goode lucke and feel free to share this contest with thy friends!

Time, o time...

Your Will hath passed another longe day at the theatre, gentles. It didst seem this day as if no one thinge wouldst work to its task. The actors fumbl'd lines, the lever for the stage wouldst not budge, and the pounding of hammers in the lodge nearbie didst make mine head pound. I gather thee have seen suche days as well, though I wish they be few for thee.

Need an insult?

Needest thou an insult for those that do offend thee? Your Will doth have thee cover'd. Thou canst share as thou wilt.

Eastcheap by night

My deare gentles, as I didst stroll me thru Eastcheape under light of starrs this eve, your Will didst muse how ye moderns might longe to see this part of Londountown by night. Here thou canst observe the Tower, where manie souls have awaited for judgmente from God, King, or Queen. I must hie me off to bed, for come morrow your Will must spende a longe day at the theatre. Sleep well, all of thee.

Win a Shakeszombie poster!

‎'Tis that time of year when the graves do open and mewl out their contents, groundlyngs. Your Will doth desire to bestowe this image of me to one of thee! All thou needst do is email the title of two of mine playes which do hath ghosts in them to dr.faustus@dulcevenenum.com I shall pluck out a champion Friday, the 12th of October.