well, the video is flat-out, roll on the floor hysterical-and I looked up the book at B&N and it looks like fun-
"In one slim volume, Reduced Shakespeare delivers the plays, the life, and the leg in twelve easy pieces. WhatÂs the theme of Hamlet? Poop or get off the pot. WhatÂs essential preparation for an evening of outdoor Shakespeare? Bring lots of coffee . . . and use the bathroom before the show."
I'm not sure what your book club will discuss, but I'd go ahead and read it-heck, it's only 209 pages in hardback.

If you're in Washington DC, try Shakespeare withOUT the words. :) Synetic Theater is adapting MacBeth to a version without dialog as they did earlier with Hamlet, see link below. (I've got tickets for a performance later this month!)

Here is a link that might be useful: Post article on Synetic's MacBeth

Am I right in thinking, then, that you dislike poetry, Kathy T?

I don't know THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE, but if you just want an easy read of the stories, then, LAMB'S TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE will also give you that. By Charles and Mary Lamb.

Dido

Dido-The Reduced Shakespeare is her book club choice, so she's stuck.
I checked with DD, who is going to do a Ph.D program on something Shakespearian...she adores The Reduced Shakespeare for all the funny bits. She said it's perfect for the non-Will-lover. Sort of Monty-Pythonish.

Dido - I don't seek out poetry for pleasure reading, but that's not to say I haven't enjoyed some wonderful poetry in my time. However, I never developed enough appreciation for it to read it outside of my studies - or very seldom, anyway. -- Kathy

Kathy,

Didn't mean to be disparaging at all. It's just, I think, when people (loads of them - my daughter who's an actress included) don't like him at all, well sometimes I can't blame them for not wanting to go to productions which can be as dry and boring as dust. And he didn't really write much that was genuinely funny. By which I don't mean 'Shakespeare's Comedies' because we all know that 'funny' is not what is meant by the term 'Comedy' here. But mostly his clowns are not funny - not knockabout with belly laughs, anyway. Like the Porter in Macbeth - yawn! The servants in just about anything. And there's more to the plays than the storylines, too. Mostly they are too far-fetched for a modern audience: Fairies and lovers in a forest at night? People shipwrecked on an island with spirits and strange beasts? etc. And the language is hard for us to understand today on a quick read or even a performance. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to bother about him.

But for me, it boils down to character and poetry. I have to admit to being a sucker for poetry alll my life from a very early age - it literally makes shivers go up my spine and little hairs stand on end. And Hamlet fascinates me as a character; so does Macbeth; Lear, etc. Always will.

Not trying to convert you - just trying to understand a few things. Sorry I can't help with The Reduced Shakespeare - I'll keep a lookout for it.

Best,

Dido

The Reduced Shakespeare is on video. It's very funny, so if nothing else, you can give that a try.

btw, I do find parts of Shakespeare to be 'roll on the floor funny,' but that's me. I thought that was part of his appeal - so many people are able to find something that they like.

DD and I recently saw Midsummer Night's Dream done at the Floger Shakespeare Library in D.C.-set, costumed and with incidental music as if a 1930's musical-hysterically funny. Same words as originally written.

I'm with skankycat. I, too, find bits laugh out loud funny.

Reduced Shakespeare sound a lot like what Shakespeare Skum do. "Leave it to Hamlet" and "MacBeth in 20 minutes or less" are a lot of fun.

Is Reduced Shakespeare anything like or associated with the Reduced Shakespeare Company who were in London's West End for the last ten years or more? They do The Complete Works of Shakespeare - all the plays in 79 minutes performed by three men in baseball boots and tights. It is absolutely hysterical - I've seen it three times.

(I've only just noticed it's finally closed...oh, well!)

Here is a link that might be useful: The Reduced Shakespeare Company

Dido, I think it's a question of the performance whether Shakespeare makes you laugh or not. I've seen a couple of hilarious all-female productions at the Globe (Much Ado & Taming of the Shrew) but also, more surprisingly, a rather funny 'Merchant of Venice' acted out by a low-budget company consisting of 5 actors only! As for appealing to a modern audience - the biggest Shakespeare-fan in our family is the 16-year-old. Thanks to Kathy's question I'm now off to investigate the Reduced Shakespeare book to see if it'll be a good birthday present for that daughter.

dido - No offense taken about the poetry question, though obviously I did feel a need to explain myself there, didn't I? I find your reaction to poetry awe-inspiring. What a wonderful trait! Wish I felt that way too.

ccrdmrbks - Thanks for the tip that Reduced Shakespeare is Monty-Pythonish. That does inspire me a bit.

Martin - Yes, I'm sure you're right. I'm told this book is based on the London performances of the three authors.

All - All of the comments above, taken collectively, make me feel like I could actually enjoy this book, if I approach it with an open mind. Thanks for the attitude adjustment. I needed that!

Kathy T

make that the FOLGER Shakespeare Library-huge building, tiny theatre with a very renaissance feel-

ccrdmrbks - I'm not very familiar with DC, but is that located in the vicinity of the new Spy Museum? -- Kathy T

Kathy, it is 3 or 5 blocks on the other side of the Capitol Building from the Spy Museum. Beyond the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court Bldg.

D.C. is having a Shakespeare Festival the first half of 2007. The Classical Theatre of Harlem is doing King Lear at the Folger this month.

It is 2nd and something-past the Supreme Court on the other side of the street-within walking distance of Union Station, but don't depend on the website directions-took us all round the Capital on a rainy day!

Kathy - thanks for mentioning your read. I know you were looking for positive comments about the book. I actually am interested in reading it now that I've seen everyone else's comments.

CeCe and Chris - I asked the location because I have a librarian friend in the DC area who attends Shakespeare performances regularly with her husband. When we got off the subway to visit the Spy Museum, she said the theater was nearby. It must not be the same place you go to. I do know where the Library of Congress is (my favorite stop in Washington last fall).

vtchewbecca - Happy to oblige! -- Kathy T

I looked it up-the Folger is 201 East Capital, on the corner of East Cap and 2nd SE...catty-corner to the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress-the Spy Museum is on F Street NW between 8th and 9th...the other side of town, across from the National Portrait Gallery. Quite a haul between them.

Kathy-how are you doing with the book?

Cece - I haven't started The Reduced Shakespeare yet. It's on my book club's schedule for mid-March. I was just agonizing over the selection of that title and whether I wanted to spend money on a book I don't anticipate liking. As it turns out, I have found someone I can borrow it from. (I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill with my fretting and trying to avoid spending a few dollars!) I will keep you posted. -- Kathy T

I requested it from the library-I want to compare it with the DVD. I'll let you know if you can "watch" the book!

That would be great, Cece! -- Kathy T

Martin - I was unsuccessful in finding the book, but before several of you mentioned the play, I had stumbled upon the DVD. Knowing it sounded just like something my husband, a retired HS English teacher, would appreciate, I ordered it. We watched it Saturday evening, and he is still chortling about it. It was excellent. Our next plan is to send it around to the "children", hoping it will find it's way back home eventually!

Kathy, I don't know how you will like it, but I was so intrigued I requested it from my library!

Rosefolly

It's funny how we stumble on titles that interest us, Rosefolly!

I finally read The Reduced Shakespeare and attended the book club meeting where it was discussed. I have to admit, it was rather fun to read. The humor was often clever, but sometimes corny. At book club, there wasn't really much to discuss, so we spent most of our time watching a DVD of The Reduced Shakespeare Company performing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Most of us were wary of the idea at first, but we were soon drawn in and I'm here to tell you, hilarity ensued. It was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. I highly recommend it. -- Kathy

I do agree that seeing a well done performance is worth its weight in gold as far as enjoying Shakespeare. Or just hearing it read - I took a Shakespeare class in college and our professsor had been an actor with the Royal Shakepear Company. He could make a phone book interesting...

BTW, late to this but

> I do know where the Library of Congress is (my favorite stop in Washington last fall).

Same with me. Been there three times - the first time my DH had to lift my jaw off the ground, spent most of my time oogling the architecture and design. Love that place.

I don't mean to mislead. Watching The Reduced Shakespeare Company perform, is not at all like watching an actual Shakespeare play. It's hard to describe.

By the way, did anyone else take a look at the book? I know some were intending to.

Cindy - yes indeed, the Library of Congress building is a sight to behold.

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

And Happy St George's Day to anyone with even a drop of English blood flowing through their veins.

Both my father and grandfather had attended the King Edward Grammar School and like all the boys were deeply embarrassed by the procession to the church clutching a couple of wilting daffodils.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations in Stratford

Vee, what marvelously flamboyant costumes! Would love to see those Morris Dancers kick up their heels!

Oh, to be in England....

Lovely pictures. Those sophisticated travelers (who deride the word tourist) on the travel forum I read decry Stratford as "too touristy" and advise people not to go there. Guess I know where that leaves me--I love it!

As children we used to laugh at Morris dancing and I think few UK people take it very seriously, but I suppose it does help keep a few middle-aged men fit . . . it's not a women's thing, and the tourists seem to enjoy it.
Carolyn you are right that S-on-A is very touristy. When I was a child there was a quiet season between Oct-April, now it is busy throughout the year and since we left I haven't been back in the town proper for about 30 years!

We English do far too little to promote the feast day of our patron saint.
I'm off to slay me a dragon.

Fabulous costumes. Thanks for the link.

Veer, I'm sorry to say that you cannot slay dragons anymore. Aren't they an endangered species these days?

Rosefolly

Not where Vee lives rules, Rosefolly.

I am always amazed at the men's costumes. They were such fashionable peacocks. I try to picture my husband in one of those outfits - and he'd be stuffed into one screaming btw - and I just cannot. Today's suit and tie uniforms are so boring.

Paula I think a strong smell of sulphur and brimstone is emanating from a Vancouver suburb. It's always dragon-slaying open-season out there in those Canadian backwoods.
Just let me get my lance sharpened and buff up my helmet . ..

Does anyone remember the wonderful Stan Freberg's recording of St George and the Dragnet?

Here is a link that might be useful: St George and the Dragnet