Classic Ross Amico

Shakespeare After School PTSD? Give Him Another Look

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Ross Amico

April 24, 2016

in Daily Dispatch

7 responses

For anyone still suffering from PTSD as a result of having to read Shakespeare in school, you should consider giving him a second look. Not only are his nimble wordplay and poetic imagination mesmerizing, the number of phrases and idioms Shakespeare coined or popularized that are still in everyday use is astonishing.

There has been much posted about this over the past several days. This is one of my favorites: comedian Rob Brydon recites “Quoting Shakespeare.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/23/rob-brydon-reveals-popular-shakespeare-phrases-in-everyday-use/

If you don’t know “The Trip,” the road comedy Brydon made with Steve Coogan, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It’s a mouthwatering blend of gourmet cuisine, banter, and dueling celebrity impressions.

#Shakespeare400
Shakespeare’s Birthday A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by

Ross Amico

April 23, 2016

in Daily Dispatch

3 responses

Happy birthday – and lamentable death date – William Shakespeare!

Here’s the enchanting fairies sequence from Warner Brothers’ 1935 film version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with a 15 year-old Mickey Rooney as Puck. Erich Wolfgang Korngold adapted the music of Felix Mendelssohn for the soundtrack. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Join me for “Picture Perfect” Friday evening at 6 EDT (with a repeat next Saturday morning at 6) when we’ll sample from this fascinating hybrid of a film score on wwfm.org.

#Shakespeare400
Shakespeare Birthday Beastmaster and the Bard

by

Ross Amico

April 23, 2016

in Daily Dispatch

3 responses

Happy birthday – and lamentable death date – William Shakespeare!

There is often the sheerest membrane between the Bard and pseudo-historical (or pre-historical) fantasy trash. And I’m not complaining. My favorite production of “The Taming of the Shrew” happens to star The Beastmaster.

“The Taming of the Shrew” with Marc Singer:

Marc Singer in “The Beastmaster”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7h7frRoAPk

#Shakespeare400
Shakespeare Birthday Blackadder Skits #Shakespeare400

by

Ross Amico

April 23, 2016

in Daily Dispatch

2 responses

Happy birthday – and lamentable death date – William Shakespeare!

Blackadder strikes back at the Bard for Kenneth Branagh’s interminable “Hamlet” (with amusing cameo by Colin Firth):

Rowan Atkinson, again, in an unrelated sketch about Shakespeare and his publisher, this time with Hugh Laurie:

“But all I’m saying, Shakey, is let’s just shorten this one terribly dull speech.”

#Shakespeare400
Shakespeare St Crispin’s Day Speech Analysis

by

Ross Amico

April 23, 2016

in Daily Dispatch

7 responses

Happy birthday – and lamentable death date – William Shakespeare!

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, do yourself a favor and revisit these two contrasting interpretations of the St. Crispin’s pep talk from “Henry V.”

Olivier, a powerful and patriotic – if somewhat theatrical – symbol for the beleaguered British during World War II:

And Branagh, a cinematic, very human Henry for today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8

Wow! Somebody hand me a sword!

#Shakespeare400