Overview

Deciphering Shakespeare's Plays: A Practical Guide to the 20 Best-Known and Enduring Works brings William Shakespeare's 400-year-old dramas alive in a new introduction for students, playgoers, and general readers. This guide doesn't just dissect great soliloquies on the page--it illuminates the essence and experience of the Shakespearean spoken word. This practical guide brings you closer to the heady, behind-the-scenes world of freelance playwriting and the London theatre scene of the 1590s. It lends insight into decisions that theatre people make while acting and staging The Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Hamlet, and Macbeth, and many other revered works by the world's greatest playwright. Deciphering Shakespeare's Plays is an invaluable reference tool for high school and university students, drama students, professional and amateur actors, teachers, playgoers, drama critics, and casual readers--or anyone who wants to discover, brush up on, or reacquaint themselves with Shakespeare's plays.

Full Product Details

9780998897806

Table of Contents

Reviews

If you think Shakespeare is stuffy and impenetrable, then allow Cynthia Greenwood's new guide to take you through his greatest plays and unlock all the marvels. Whether you're new to Shakespeare, a student or inveterate theatre patron, you'll find this book invaluable. --Jeffrey Bean, veteran member of the Alley Theatre resident company and Broadway actor In her new book, Greenwood gives students and playgoers the chance to inhabit Shakespeare's plays as actors and directors do. Here she translates soliloquies and speeches, making sense of ancient verses that still inspire speakers of modern English. --Raymond Caldwell, founder and artistic director of the Texas Shakespeare Festival Greenwood's goal is to make Shakespeare's plays accessible to general readers and playgoers, and her aim comes through in every chapter of this introductory guide. Readers who want a quick brush-up on a play's plot, character, and historical context will find everything they need. Ron Severdia, Publisher and editor of PlayShakespeare.com, the Ultimate Free Shakespeare Resource A handy reference for theatre students of all ages. Something you'd want on your desk at home when you are pulling for inspiration for an audition tomorrow, or preparing for a final and need a quick take on a specific text or general Elizabethan background. Diana Howie, Playwright and author of Susanna & Will and Susanna of Stratford

""If you think Shakespeare is stuffy and impenetrable, then allow Cynthia Greenwood's new guide to take you through his greatest plays and unlock all the marvels. Whether you're new to Shakespeare, a student or inveterate theatre patron, you'll find this book invaluable."" --Jeffrey Bean, veteran member of the Alley Theatre resident company and Broadway actor ""In her new book, Greenwood gives students and playgoers the chance to inhabit Shakespeare's plays as actors and directors do. Here she translates soliloquies and speeches, making sense of ancient verses that still inspire speakers of modern English."" --Raymond Caldwell, founder and artistic director of the Texas Shakespeare Festival ""Greenwood's goal is to make Shakespeare's plays accessible to general readers and playgoers, and her aim comes through in every chapter of this introductory guide. Readers who want a quick brush-up on a play's plot, character, and historical context will find everything they need."" Ron Severdia, Publisher and editor of PlayShakespeare.com, the Ultimate Free Shakespeare Resource ""A handy reference for theatre students of all ages. Something you'd want on your desk at home when you are pulling for inspiration for an audition tomorrow, or preparing for a final and need ""a quick take"" on a specific text or general Elizabethan background."" Diana Howie, Playwright and author of Susanna & Will and Susanna of Stratford

Author Information

Cynthia Greenwood has worked as a professional interpreter of Shakespeare for newspaper readers, students, and theatregoers for thirty years. She is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays, having taught Shakespeare's plays and sonnets at the college level for ten years. She served as the classical arts critic for the Houston Press, and has filed arts reports and reviews for The New York Times, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, San Antonio Express-News, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Playbill and PlayShakespeare.com. She holds a Master's degree in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a second Master's degree with an emphasis on British drama, from The University of Houston.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available