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Monkeys are smart. Though they haven't created cars or trains or weapon, they are educated through simplicity. They flourish on what they have, and if something doesn't work, they don't give up, but they evolve to overcome it. Like monkeys, Shakespeare had no thesaurus, no dictionary, no laptop and no editor. But when he came to a spot where he was at loss for words, he made up his own words. Through practice, perseverance and certainly trial and error, he created works that will last forever.

I am a 13 year old kid who is trying to read and attend live performances of all 37 Shakespeare plays (plus 3 possible collaborations) in 2 years. This is a record of my experiences.

I am now a 19 year old college freshmen at Northwestern University, pursuing a degree in Theatre. The spark of love for Shakespeare that began this blog has grown into a roaring fire. That fire burns a little bit brighter each day. This is where it all began.


PLAY COUNT: 40

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Jude Law as Hamlet

Number 1




Also I saw Jude Law do an uncut Hamlet on Broadway, which was fantastic! He had a real stage presence, which was maximized by using a minimal set. He really delivered both the euphoria and depression of Hamlets situation so well that he made it unclear whether Hamlet was truly a madman or just faking it. He made the audience believe he really was at a loss, not sure whether he should kill Claudius to avenge his father.


The play revolved around Jude Law. He had all the lines, all the acting, all the stardom. He didn’t act out the play, he was the play. And the play was him. I mean, he went on stage, and instead of thinking “O my god it’s Jude Law” I thought “Hey, it’s Hamlet.” When he spoke those ancient lines, he wasn’t reciting them, they were his. He was the Hamlet.

But really set him apart was his ability to own the stage. Maybe it’s something you learn as a screen actor. His physical acting was impeccable, but he had a presence besides that. As if he built the stage. The stage was always dark, with no props at all, just a single door. He would look up and light would shine on his face, and he would merge with the stage. It was a magical experience.






25 September 2009

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