We are going to see this play on April 3rd (and 10th because so many wanted to go that we had to book another day). The play seems to be very good if you have information please post it. There are some famous extracts in the Reading Club, do look at them and tell us what you think about them.
lunes, 10 de marzo de 2008
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Oh, I love this play!
:)
I´m glad you like it, it is very good but I prefer Hamlet, however many critics say that King Lear is Shakespeare´s best play so your taste is more like theirs so....
Oh, but... Hamlet is amazing. You're right. Let me tell you a little story... Should I? It's a story from activism... Should I?
Mmm... Well, I think you'll like it! The first time I was arrested (sorry about this) because of a Direct Nonviolent Action (DNV) at the military base of Greenham Common, Berkshire, England, I had something to declare. You know, when they arrest you, they fill in a form and ask you if you've got anything to declare. Well, this is a bit embarrassing (Perhaps we could delete this message if it's not appropriate or something! I'm unsure!)... I stood up and changing a about three words I'll type in block letters below, I quoted Shakespeare's Hamlet. I was sure Shakespeare would have laughed at my version, and possibly agreed, though I'm not sure about that! Anyway, this is what I said:
To be or not to be - that is the question
Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The BOMBS and HUNGER of outrageous GOVERNMENTS
Or to fight against a sea of arms
and by opposing, end them?
---
Isn't it ABSOLUTELY pacifist?! :D
Sargeant Chapman, the sargeant in charge of my arrest, was amazed, and he starting clapping! He decided not to send me to the police headquarters in Newbury, the nearby village, so I was able to get back to Blue Gate, to the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp where I was living at that time.
I don't know if I like King Lear more than Hamlet. I just read King Lear once, when I was young! But I remember I liked it much. It had like amazing visual images. But in terms of human concerns, I think that like you, I'm closer to Hamlet, though I don't usually doubt as much as him! But that might be because I'm more experienced! The advantage of being actual, alive, is that you grow older!!! :D
Night night
I think the story is wonderful! No wonder the sargent was amazed!!The English revere Shakespeare so in case we are in trouble we know it can act as a safe-conduct. How clever of you
Someone told me not to go in without visiting the loo first! I adore long plays! I hope we have a drink to comment if we like it or not! See you!
Amazing, incredible, fantastic, wonderful!!King Lear is one of the best plays I have ever seen!I can't say anything else. No words may express how impressed did I feel!King Lear=human being in every way and situation.
Congratulations Carmen and Marta for your choice
Yesterday, we went to see the play and it was marvellous, splendid in my opinion. I am still socked. Although I have not read it, I think the translation into our language besides it being changed from verse to prose made it easy to understand. Also, it is amazing how Shakespeare is able to show us such a wide rage of human being’s feelings . Every thought reflected in the scene could be used nowadays. Perfect as it is, I am going to choose among all the acts the three following ones as my favourite ones: the first scene in which King Lear is to give his heritance to his sisters, the speech done by the buffoon in his first appearance and the time when the king is forced to remain under the storm.
And I enjoyed listenign the extracts posted in the blog,too.
Hello everybody! I enjoyed the play very much; I believe it is the best we have seen so far. As usual the acting was quite uneven but, in general, the actors were good. The music, perfect, the scenery enough. You don’t feel tired because of its length, on the contrary, once the play finishes you are amazed because the time has flown and you haven’t been aware. Being in prose, and having been the text respected enough, the play is easily understood and the plot is followed without any trouble. I strongly recommend it. Very few times can you see such a good version of a giant.
Last night I went to see the play and I believe it is the best play that I have seen this year. As far as I am concerned, this is the king of play that I would recommended to everybody to spend a good time and learn a lot of things. The Kind Lear's perfomance has been excelent. I believe that everybody had liked it. The actors' perfomance in general was good. The music, perfect, and the scenary too. Althoud the play is large, the time passed flown and you don't feel tired. The speech done by the buffoon is in my opinion really good. Everybody would learn what happen the King Lear. To sum up, I would like recommend this play to everybody.
Hello, folks!.
Tha play was amazing, very well acting. I enjoyed a lot. I think the actor who represents King Lear was fantastic, probably one of the best I have ever seen in Spain. Besides, this play being a classic is completely valid nowadays, because it is essential human feelings that Shakespeare talks about: love, hatred, betrade, forgiveness, old age,...
I also recommend it strongly. By the way, the stage design was very impressive, giving more strengh to the play
I also liked the play very much and I also think that King Lear was the best, without forgetting Edmond, Edgar and Count Gloucester. However it was Shakespeare´s words that amazed me. Defintely, he is the best writer, don´t you think? Then I´ll write more, I haven´t got time now...
"When we are born we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools" (Lear)
What is your favourite quote?
Hi, you keen on theatre!!!.
I support most of your "reviews" about King Lear. Yesterday we saw an excellent play (I don´t use the word "performance" and later I´m explaining why). Shakespeare is a synonym of assured success. The play looks fresh thanks to different changes in wardrobe, sounds (we heard police sirens and modern guns) and objects (they carried lanterns instead of torches to illuminate). The images proyected over the stage are in connection with the action of the plot and they create the right atmosphere according to the scenes (especially the storm). As far as the scenery is concerned, despite the fact that it stands out against its minimalist style it fits the spirit of the play. So far, so good, but I´m afraid, I´ve got something negative to say in relation to the quality of some of the actors/actress. In my opinion, the performances of some of them were, at least, poor and the characters were few credible. The cast should be on the same level to the play and in this case, I´m afraid, it wasn´t. What do you think about it?.
The last post was mine. Sorry. I´ve got wooden fingers.
I agree with the bandit. I have liked the play very much. I am impressed by the sound and visual effects and the set in general. I think that this is an important part of this adaptation of King Lear. But I have to admit that some actress and actors weren´t able to rise to the occasion. Anyway, I enjoyed the play very much and I recommend you to see it. The next time, I also recommend you to have a drink with your mates after having seen the play. It´s very funny and sometimes you meet some actress and actors in the bars.
Hi Noemi!! I agree with you, the best is to have "a lot of drinks" after seeing the play and more if you are sitting near Pedro Reyes (the humourist) without knowing who was, to see Regan, Edgar and two Lear´s men and comment the play with them!! Teachers,Paloma and husband, you should not go home so early! Though the next day to weak up cost me a lot!! Susan and The Bandit, the next time we want you to stay with us...
Noemi and Maria, I have to admit that after leaving Plaza Lavapies, I immediately regretted not having a drink with all of you. I know it was a French farewell but the following day I had to get up at 6 a.m. Sorry for that. Next time, I promise you I will have a drink (or two) with you. Bye.
I'll take you at your word! ;)
King Lear is a majestic work which says truths of life and family which we can all identify with, 400 years later. The speech really amazed me! Do you think it is a positive play or a negative play? Is this what happens in real life to good people? Are good people martyrs?
It is a difficult play to get right on the stage because it demands the greatest acting from the best available actors, and the main characters were (Lear, Edmund, Edgar), but Cordelia and Fool, for instance, weren´t. However, it is a fact that time went by quickly, which is very important, it isn´t?
(Note: English mates, we are going to the cinema in VO this week. Read 'Welcome' in Reading Club and post your ideas)
I am scaring myself of have children like the daughters of king lear!!
I have known some families with Regans and Gonerils, and I hope to be lucky with my own children...However, it should to be a Cordelia in each ones.
It was one of the facts that impressed me more.
The other one is how a son(Edmundo) could be so bad and cruel with his brother (Edgar)
Well, well so finally some people are discovering Shakespeare...There is nothing like him, he is so strong in his definitions of character, he uses language so acurately, he understands human nature so well that as one of you put it, the audience is shocked, scared to conceive and bear children who are that horrible....but we do, sorry but he writes about us and we have that cruelty, that selfishness inside us. This is most frightening;to think that we have the seed inside and that it can crop and turn itself into such vile feelings and actions, which can then be explained, justified, forgiven, it´s too,too distrssing to think....
María and Noemí, a drink is fun after any cuktural event. you feel you´ve done a lot cultivated your brain and your senses.
Bandit, it always takes you sometime to "follow" me through the door,the other day you jumped out of the window, as is in your nature. It took you three months, didn´t it, in class; if it takes you that long now we will be into the next year! At least you were sorry, which proves that you have improved a bit, just a bit, mind. During the event on 25th April remember "out through the door" whenever I say it.
The play: I did not like the clothes. It´s very difficult to be majestic if you do not have grand clothes. Dress actresses in jeans and they look cheap. Dress them in fantastic clothes and they princesses. I liked the gloomy atmossphere and the use of video to show rain, the storm,etc.Lear was quite good and Edmund surprised me, but quite honestly the others were very mediocre, some of them to he point of being an absolute disgrace:France and Burgundy!!and what about Cordelia? I agree with whoever said the fool was a very poor actor.
However, all in all I quite liked it, We were not tired at all, which means that they managed to keep us concentrated for such a long time. Music very well blended and blending one scene with the next. Roberto the storm is one of the most famous parts in Lear. you are becoming quite an expert at getting to the point or getting the point, well done.
I have read all the comments and they are very interesting. The play was good on the whole in my opinion. I was sitting by Ana and the first thing we said was: 3 hours and we hardly knew they were passing. That is something because the play is long and I have seen some performances that were much slower and one was dying for them to finish. Lear and Edmund were good as we were commenting over a wine and some squid after the play(Yes, I was there too and you missed a nice outing, bandit, Ana and Juan), but the ladies were terrible specially Cordelia. Lear was poor in the last scene and made the people next to me laugh, (the person was stupid, you must be thinking and I agree, there was nothing to laugh at). And how about Cordelia dead and coming out in Lear´s arms with a perfectly straight head? The fool is one of Shakespeare´s best but the actor did a poor job.
Edmund as a character is wonderful,the other great villain Iago is not worse because Edmund does everything to his brother and father,his own blood, and Iago to his general, Othello.
Albany gets the better of himself as the play advances and finally finds courage to fight against Edmund, if Edgar hadn´t turned up,and to contradict Goneril when he tells her that her sister´s marriage is valid.
My favourite quote? The one you say is a good one, I also like some of the fool´s comments, the problem is I can´t remember any by heart!! I agree that it is one of the best we´ve seen so far.
Now that I´ve read all your comments I really feel like going to see the play,it wasn´t possible for me to go with you all,and of course staying to have a drink and fun after,María and Noemí know it well.I´ll try to find a ticket as soon as possible.Good for you!(for being so convincing).Silvia 4ºA
In spite of the fact that the play is full of excellent quotes I picked up the following one because of the truth showed and it being completely valid nowadays.
Act 1, scene II; EDMUND
“A credulous father! and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms,
That he suspects none: on whose foolish honesty
My practises ride easy! I see the business.
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:
All with me's meet that I can fashion fit.”
A very true comment. Still today one finds that this is only too common. Edmund is really bad, but many people will do whatever to get power and money, to be somebody, and that is what Edmund does.
you could do whatever you be able to get power and money without be cruel or miserable...and the result it´s rewarder.
Well, well, Roberto you are becoming quite good at English, aren´t you? quoting Shakespeare.
I´m very proud of you and your improvement. WELL DONE
Hi!!
I jus can say that I love it!! I don´t mind to see again.
Well, María,this is one of my favourites quote from King Lear.
"My love's more richer than my tongue".
Next time, please we stricke up a debate after the play! it could be very interesting.
1rst years, I don´t see any of your comments
Hi!
I just wanted to say that maybe the problem with Cordelia is that we have watched her on tv, in terrible series as a terrible actress. Anyway her work was never good, so the question is: who did the casting?
Esther, 4ºb
My dear Susan, the next time is this thursday in Pavon!! See you!!
Carmen, I appreciate sincerely your compliments, they encourage me to keep going. Thank you.
Dear classmates, you will probably read this comment in several of the sections showed in this blog. I have done it on purpose.
Having attended to Friday’s class in the computer room, I must say something related to it. Those of you being interested in learning English language well can not miss these moments. You will never have the chance of understanding Shakespeare, Keats, Wordsworth, etc, who have made English be the most important language all around the world again. In addition, you start to appreciate Carmen’s wise and feel like keeping going till you reach her knowledge during your life.
Therefore, not only must you attend to usual classes, but also doing it on Friday’s.
Carmen, thank you sincerely.
Someone has told me that there are no tickets to see the play!
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