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landofnowhereThe Comedy of Errors, William Shakespeare. Readaloud -- this is still fun, even if hella problematic -- but interesting to see hints of what Shakespeare will do later.
The Masque of Proteus from the Gesta Grayorum, attributed to Francis Davison, though I think there may also be some connection with Francis Bacon? The Gesta Grayorum is an account of the Christmas Revels performed at Gray's Inn in 1594, which notably included a performance of The Comedy of Errors, but also included this masque, so we did them together as back-to-back readalouds. I read the Squire, who has most of the narration here, and jumping into this without any preparation was... an experience. There's some fun stuff about the Proteus myth, and then it loses the plot and goes on about how Queen Elizabeth is the most powerful force in the world, as one does.
Fighting Words, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Recommended byosprey_archer. This is a story for kids about sexual abuse and speaking up, and I don't know how it will work for its intended audience, but I thought it was really well done, cathartic, and thought-provoking, with well-done characters and an ultimately uplifting arc despite the depressing subject. Made me think. Also I'm always here for a story about sisters.
A Woman of No Importance, Oscar Wilde. Readaloud. This is a really interesting play -- but now that I've read all of Wilde's drawing-room plays, I can see why Importance of Being Earnest is the most popular one -- it's all fluff, whereas the plays that are trying to do something serious don't mix it as well with the comedy. The first half of this play is a bunch of people hanging out in a country house saying witty things, and then the second half is a soap opera, and it doesn't quite fit. I got to read the part of Mrs. Allonby, who is mainly there to say wicked and witty things in the first half, and is great fun -- at least when she isn't being sickenly gender essentialist. (Hilariously for Wilde fans, Mrs. Allonby's husband, who she married before realizing he was really quite boring, is named Ernest.) Also really interesting to have an American character in this one.
The Masque of Proteus from the Gesta Grayorum, attributed to Francis Davison, though I think there may also be some connection with Francis Bacon? The Gesta Grayorum is an account of the Christmas Revels performed at Gray's Inn in 1594, which notably included a performance of The Comedy of Errors, but also included this masque, so we did them together as back-to-back readalouds. I read the Squire, who has most of the narration here, and jumping into this without any preparation was... an experience. There's some fun stuff about the Proteus myth, and then it loses the plot and goes on about how Queen Elizabeth is the most powerful force in the world, as one does.
Fighting Words, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Recommended by
osprey_archer. This is a story for kids about sexual abuse and speaking up, and I don't know how it will work for its intended audience, but I thought it was really well done, cathartic, and thought-provoking, with well-done characters and an ultimately uplifting arc despite the depressing subject. Made me think. Also I'm always here for a story about sisters.A Woman of No Importance, Oscar Wilde. Readaloud. This is a really interesting play -- but now that I've read all of Wilde's drawing-room plays, I can see why Importance of Being Earnest is the most popular one -- it's all fluff, whereas the plays that are trying to do something serious don't mix it as well with the comedy. The first half of this play is a bunch of people hanging out in a country house saying witty things, and then the second half is a soap opera, and it doesn't quite fit. I got to read the part of Mrs. Allonby, who is mainly there to say wicked and witty things in the first half, and is great fun -- at least when she isn't being sickenly gender essentialist. (Hilariously for Wilde fans, Mrs. Allonby's husband, who she married before realizing he was really quite boring, is named Ernest.) Also really interesting to have an American character in this one.
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Date: 17 Feb 2022 13:00 (UTC)no subject
Date: 21 Feb 2022 17:00 (UTC)FYI, I also read Leap of Faith around that time, and it didn't really work for me, but I'm also very much not the intended audience (it's about a conversion experience).