I found it to be a mind-less plot-less collection of idiotic coincidences mixed with cheap repetative Elizabethan peotry.
Meh each to their own. Quite like Midsummer night's dream, it's my favourite play in which no one dies. The whole three plots in one is a little confusing though. Being British I did Shakespare every year of high school, a lot to handle and horrific torture if it goes over your head (which for the most part it did). Learnt to appreciate it in college though, being able to really understand the prose. It's very well written all things considered, would love to write as good a villian as Iago. Alwas find it ironic that he intended the plays to be like soap operas, just cheap cheery fun for the masses. And when you consider the actual themes and content there really isn't much diffrence between those. Yet the plays are held with such pious regard. My fave plays thus far are Macbeth and Othello, just love the darker themes and characters. Only one I've disliked (actually loathed) is Much ado about nothing, it's very aptly titled.
I like the comedies, but prefer the historical plays and tragedies. My favourite is King Lear and my favourite character is the Fool from the same play. I saw Midsummer Night's Dream at the Barbican, London performed by the RSC and was stupefied with how excellent it was. The thing to remember is that it's one thing reading a play and another seeing it as it was meant to be presented, and that is on stage. I consider myself priviliged to have seen Derek Jacobi's Richard III and Ian Mackellen's, though I would like to have seen Anthony Sher's too, since I read his book on how he worked on the character (I saw him at the National in Brecht's Arturo Ui, however, and Kafka's The Trial, directed by Stephen Berkoff, another genius). My favourite Shakesperean actor has to be Brian Cox, though, in pretty much everything that he's ever done. He's the Real Madrid of acting. To me Shakespeare is more of a bible than the bible. It has useful advice for everything in life. Neither a lender, nor a borrower be, for example. Try remembering that next time you apply for a credit card!
if you like a Midsummer Night's Dream, then read the Tempest. i played Hermia in Midsummers and Miranda in the Tempst. great plays. to those who didnt get it, go see the play it really helps to watch Shakespeare live. (if it's done well, and not all changed around)
I always avoided Shakespeare because they pushed him on us so hard at school, but I've gotten back into it this year. Currently reading "King Lear" after finishing "Macbeth" a while ago.My basic interest is the poetry but the observations on human nature prove we're basically the same as we were 400 years ago. Anyone not met a Lear or an Iago? If you think you haven't, it may be that you are one! They are pretty much the soap operas of their time, as someone said. The point for me, though, is not that Shakespeare is overrated so much as that soap operas are underrated. They have their formulas, like the Bard, but there's some great writing and acting hidden in there too - at least, in the British ones like "Coronation Street".
I'm a huge fan as well and tend towards the darker ones too. Maybe it's the depth of the characters and twists to the plots. I haven't read a play from cover to cover in quite some time, but I've been known to pick one up and read anywhere it opens to. For those that have trouble with the language I will agree, to see it acted will help but I think easier than plays would be Kenneth Brannaugh's movies. Plays aren't always well done.
I agree with gdhmomchild there. Unless you're a theatre buff, and have seen a lot of Shakespeare, avoid going to fringe theatre, because it might put you off. (I personally prefer it. Once saw Macbeth at the Pentameters Pub in Hampstead and it was top quality, in your face, and you could drink your pint whilst watching...absolute class my lovies. Plus the landlady served warm wine with cinnamon at half time. You had to bring your own sandwiches, though). If you're in London I would suggest you try the Barbican or the National. At least if the production is nuff, you can stare at the expensive scenery and costumes. Plus you can always go for a curry afterwards.
