The Bard

'So it is not with me as with that Muse'

I only wish this were true. We've created a vast subculture that in the striving to be unique, end up just like everybody else. It's those darn teenage hipsters again. I only have a sliver of hope in myself that I can rise above the horrible trappings of this and become truly unique, and as a musician, writer, artist, and poet, that's something I struggle with every time I pick up a pen and a piece of paper.

Any way that that goes, I've already gone way off topic from what I was originally going to talk about. I said this blog was going to be about actual life through my eyes, and not some psychobabble nonsense anyway.

The quote at the top of the page is from one of Shakespeare's sonnets, if you were paying any attention at all to the title, and I shall leave you to go discover that one if you're interested in learning more about what it's about.

The reason the topic is Shakespeare is because I have an opportunity that most missionary kids don't have. Through meeting some people at the local home school co-op, we have created a kind of Shakespeare troupe, and our on our way to performing our third play. I say on our way only due to the fact that we just started, and auditions are sometime this month. The play is Much Ado About Nothing and I have my very capable sights set on the role of Claudio. Oh, I can just taste the anticipation.

So why Shakespeare? Although crudity is the basest of humours, Shakespeare makes it hilarious and sophisticated at the same time. I doubt any modern day comedies can attest to this kind of wit:

"Is it possible Disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signor Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to Disdain if you come in her presence."

"Then is Courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none."

"A dear happiness to women - they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me."

"God keep your ladyship still in that mind, so some gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face."

"Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were."

--

This small exchange between the characters of Beatrice and Benedick (in Much Ado About Nothing) is a drop in the sea of language to be found. And that's just why I love it so much. You could spend years studying his scripts.

I'm afraid I might be babbling on about something that not too many other people care about, or at least as passionately as I do, so I'll leave you with that. I'll let you know how auditions go, and will probably have another blog up by the end of next week.

Toodle-loo, I'm off to be or not to be.

-Ben