Shakespeare Sunday -- Prospero summons Caliban in THE TEMPEST

SHAKESPEARE SUNDAY

In their first scene in Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, Prospero summons Caliban, who has a few words for Prospero, the master of the island, and none of the them are "happy birthday".

In this reading of the scene, I play both Prospero and Caliban.
-Mark Redfield 

Listen to it here:

THIS ISLAND'S MINE 

SHAKESPEARE SATURDAYS: Caliban in THE TEMPEST "This island's mine!"

SHAKESPEARE SATURDAYS at An Actor's Notebook.

In this brief moment from Shakespeare's magical THE TEMPEST, we are introduced to Caliban, the child-creature of the island, summoned by Prospero...


I'll read both Prospero and Caliban in this scene.

SHAKESPEARE SATURDAYS The First Theatrical "knock-knock" joke? The Porter scene from MACBETH

 Is this the first "knock-knock" joke?

This scene, from Shakespeare's horror-show MACBETH, takes place right after the murder of Duncan. It's usually cut form productions, mostly because directors don't quite know what to do with it and it's apparent change of tone. But it is very useful, and it's meaning is easy for an audience to grasp, so I think that it should be kept.

In this recording I'll read the part of The Porter, who is a bit (no, he's very) drunk, and Malcolm, who has been a-knocking...

Hope you like it!

-Mark Redfield
3 May, 2014

Shakespeare Saturdays: Chorus opening speech from HENRY V, performed by Mark Redfield

SHAKESPEARE SATURDAYS...


Today we begin our "Shakespeare Saturdays" series; monologues and scenes posted every Saturday for the fun of it, the hell of it, the vocal exercise of it,  and to celebrate William Shakespeare's 450th through-out the year...

I thought it's be fun to begin with Chorus's opening speech from HENRY V, asking the listeners to kindly use their imaginations to enhance a poor theater's production values...

I hope you enjoy these little sips of Shakespeare.

-Mark Redfield
26 April, 2014

ps--although we really don't know the date of Shakespeare's birth, we DO know he was baptized on this day--April 26th. 

THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE We Celebrate 450 Years: April 1564-April 201

Historians believe that the great playwright and poet was born on this day in 1564. He also died on this date, April 23rd, in 1616. There some who insist that his birth be celebrated on the 26th, because there is a baptismal certificate for that day, although there is no birth record. Regardless, today we honor the great William Shakespeare, for his words and characters live on.

William Shakespeare

To celebrate and honor Shakespeare, I'm going to post a newly recorded monologue or scene each Saturday here at AN ACTOR'S NOTEBOOK. Look for posts headlined SHAKESPEARE SATURDAYS for my recordings, and for articles and stories about The Bard, along with each recording..

I think Shakespeare is best when you can HEAR him performed (and even better to see AND hear!), so I've selected a wide ranging and eclectic series of speeches that I've recorded, and I hope you like them.

They were fun to record, and allowed me to think about characters and plays I hadn't performed in years, or look at old favorites anew, and play some characters I missed earlier in my career.

To start things off, here is Prospero's epilogue, spoken at the end of THE TEMPEST. One of Shakespeare's last plays, this monologue is rather fitting to hear on the anniversary of The Bard's death, as Prospero is surely giving up his magic and creativity and letting his every "third thought" be of his own death...This monologue, in many ways, is about endings then, and about beginnings, much like the play THE TEMPEST itself.

For your indulgence and pleasure, I submit most humbly,

-Mark Redfield
23 April, 2014

TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT--PRELUDE TO THE STORM

It's been sometime since I wrote and published anything here, but my recent experience, as horrific as it was, prompts me to re-examine and re-look at some things.

So, I'm back.

Back to continue to muse aloud and investigate just what it is that I do as an actor, and any-old-other-thing that strikes my fancy that's related to the art and craft of acting.

We resume this parade of thoughts, questions, and the search for answers with a seven-part series of essays  I'll call Tempest in a Teapot, inspired by a production of Shakespeare's The Tempest that I was recently invited to join to play Prospero (after the original Prospero quit, along with the co-director--that should have been enough of a warning!) and the very same production that I quit two days before opening night.

Much to talk about. Glad to be back talking about it with fellow actors and people who are interested in just what it is that we actors do.

Part One of TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT will begin when I think the time is right, and ripe!

Mark Redfield
27 August, 2013

Original Images and Text © Mark Redfield 2013