November 25, 2019

Seeing Much Ado About Nothing on PBS cued me in on Don John:

The "canker in the hedge" line predates Paradise Lost's "reign in hell" speech.

DON JOHN:I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in
his grace, and it better fits my blood to be
disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob
love from any: in this, though I cannot be said to
be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied
but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with
a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I
have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my
mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do
my liking: in the meantime let me be that I am and
seek not to alter me.

Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Scene 1

Contrast:

Iago's: "I am not what I am."

Popeye's: "I yam what I yam, and that's all what I yam"

Exodus 3:14 King James Version (KJV)

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.


Tis better to be vile than vile esteemed,
When not to be receives reproach of being,
And the just pleasure lost which is so deemed
Not by our feeling but by others’ seeing.
For why should others’ false adulterate eyes
Give salutation to my sportive blood?
Or on my frailties why are frailer spies,
Which in their wills count bad what I think good?
No, I am that I am, and they that level
At my abuses reckon up their own;
I may be straight, they they themselves be bevel.
By their rank thoughts my deeds must not be shown,
Unless this general evil they maintain:
All men are bad, and in their badness reign.

Sonnet 121

June 6, 2019

75 years ago today.



Queens distribution for Much Ado About Nothing. Rain was forecast but never came.



John's Pizza was nearby. A classic, old-school slice.



Coriolanus is next. Never read it or saw it, looking forward to it.



A real nice production. Danielle Brooks and Grantham Coleman make a fine pairing in their witty sparring as Beatrice and Benedick. Chuck Cooper was superb as Leonato.

Two observations: 1) Play starts and ends with Marvin Gaye's "What's going on";2) the help in this Atlanta mansion act and look like the help in Get Out. Except when dancing, and the dance sequences are quite good.

May 12, 2019

Happy Mother's Day! My early start: Mimosas.



Shakespeare in the Park starts with Much Ado About Nothing.I'm re-reading it and I have begun watching the Globe production. Eve Best and Charles Edwards make a fine pair.



Going deep into Much Ado About Nothing. Nothing and Noting throughout the play, being homophones at the time. No thing, Nothing was a euphemism for vagina back then. My first take is how similar the speeches of Beatrice and Benedict are to the usual jester set-pieces. Jesters in love, speaking truth, wise fools.

January 30, 2014

Monuments Men looks like a good read.



Bought the Much Ado about Nothing DVD, heard good things about it. I've seen it performed a lot since it is a Shakespeare in the park staple.




Old Town Bar is a classic.




Went to Katz's for some Brisket.

 

Katz's Brown Ale, made by Brooklyn Brewery and an overstuffed sandwich: $26. Delicious.