Classical | Raging Biblio-holism

The Underpants

February 19, 2012 by Drew

The Short Version: When Louise’s underpants mysteriously fall off during a parade for the King, Theo is convinced that he will lose his job and everything he holds dear. Meanwhile, under his nose, two gentlemen who got a view of Louise’s nether regions have arrived to rent their available room – and make off with Louise in the process. The Review: You know, I think there’s a reason we go to the French for our farces and not the Germans. […]

Categories: Classical, Contemporary, Plays • Tags: Adaptation, Carl Sternheim, Classical, Contemporary, Plays, Steve Martin, The Underpants

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Part II

December 27, 2011 by Drew

The Short Version: Ten years since Macbeth was slain and Malcolm still sits upon the Scottish throne. Things are relatively peaceful, although the anniversary stirs up some still-simmering insecurities about that lingering bit of prophecy regarding Fleance. Malcolm is led by his less-than-good courtiers into a spiral of deceit and murder not unlike that of his predecessor, again leading to the inevitable conclusion that the witches prophesied so long ago. The Review: I’ve been wary of this play for some time – […]

Categories: Classical, Contemporary, Plays • Tags: Classical, Contemporary, Macbeth, Noah Lukeman, Plays, Shakespeare, The Seed of Banquo, The Tragedy of Macbeth Part II

The Liar

August 6, 2011 by Drew

The Short Version: Dorante, newly arrived in Paris, is a consumate liar. He manages to spin a web of fantastic stories and get himself caught up in a classic French romantic farce, complete with mistaken identities and identical twins. Fun is had by all and everyone gets married in the end! The Review: In an attempt to get myself back into a Think Tank creative mindset, I’m attempting to dive back into reading plays. Having procured a few from The Public during […]

Categories: Classical, Plays • Tags: Classical, Comedy, David Ives, Pierre Corneille, Plays, The Liar

The Tragedy of Arthur

May 16, 2011 by Drew

The Short Version: Arthur Phillips uses the ‘introduction’ to the first major printing of a heretofore undiscovered Shakespeare to tell the story of how this play came to be and, in the telling, ends up telling most of his life’s story. Turns out his dad was a conman and that this play might be his greatest con. Along the way, he manages to alienate his twin sister (and get her girlfriend pregnant), barely patch up his relationship with the jailbird father before […]

Categories: Classical, Fiction, Literature, Plays • Tags: 1, Arthur Phillips, Classical, Fiction, Literature, Plays, Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Arthur, William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night

November 15, 2009 by Drew

Some people might see this as a cop-out. I’m just prefacing this by saying that I don’t. Yes, I’m in the play and yes this last week included tech weekend… but, no joke, I’ve read the play three times all the way through, notes and all. The show is billed as Shakespeare’s last “festive comedy” but (and perhaps this comes with our production of the play) I don’t really see it that way. It is much more of a “problem […]

Categories: Cannonball Read II, Classical, Literary Challenges, Plays • Tags: Book #3, Cannonball Read II, Classical, Plays, Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Raging Biblio-holism

The overwhelming urge to collect, consume, and consider books

Category Archives: Classical

The Underpants

The Tragedy of Macbeth, Part II

The Liar

The Tragedy of Arthur

Twelfth Night