The actor is too prone to exaggerate his powers; he wants to play Hamlet when his appearance is more suitable to King Lear.
quote by Sarah Bernhardt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You have to get through the Hamlet hoop as a young actor. Your classical qualifications are based on the quality of your Hamlet. And then, as an older actor, you have to get through the Lear hoop. And I'm approaching the Lear hoop.
quote by Derek Jacobi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Politics In Art Shakespearean Style
In the play King Lear for example,
the king must be either very wise,
like King James I, or very stupid, so
it cannot possibly be, King James I.
View first historically documented
performance of this play, took place
on December 26,1606, before King
James I, Shakespeare embeds conceit.
Cunningly Shakespeare embeds support
shades opposition, first outlining cleverly
King James Stuart's, ideas, of absolutist
Monarchy, belief in divine right to rule.
Stuart's style of legitimizing his reign is
wisely promoted; secret opposition made
through a masked linking of King Stuart’s
character to Lear hidden behind ill health.
Self imposed censorship of art and press is
constantly in vogue due to issues of legalize
and dire ramifications of offending power
embodied in government or rule as dictated.
Oh Dear King Lear absolute rule fails ignores
needs of individuals nation is ripe system axed.
When government is not by the people for real
benefit of her people exploitation ensures hexed.
poem by Terence George Craddock
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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King Claudius: How fares our cousin Hamlet?
Hamlet: Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon's dish. I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so.
line from Hamlet, Act III, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lapis Lazuli
(For Harry Clifton)
I HAVE heard that hysterical women say
They are sick of the palette and fiddle-bow.
Of poets that are always gay,
For everybody knows or else should know
That if nothing drastic is done
Aeroplane and Zeppelin will come out.
Pitch like King Billy bomb-balls in
Until the town lie beaten flat.
All perform their tragic play,
There struts Hamlet, there is Lear,
That's Ophelia, that Cordelia;
Yet they, should the last scene be there,
The great stage curtain about to drop,
If worthy their prominent part in the play,
Do not break up their lines to weep.
They know that Hamlet and Lear are gay;
Gaiety transfiguring all that dread.
All men have aimed at, found and lost;
Black out; Heaven blazing into the head:
Tragedy wrought to its uttermost.
Though Hamlet rambles and Lear rages,
And all the drop-scenes drop at once
Upon a hundred thousand stages,
It cannot grow by an inch or an ounce.
On their own feet they came, or On shipboard,'
Camel-back; horse-back, ass-back, mule-back,
Old civilisations put to the sword.
Then they and their wisdom went to rack:
No handiwork of Callimachus,
Who handled marble as if it were bronze,
Made draperies that seemed to rise
When sea-wind swept the corner, stands;
His long lamp-chimney shaped like the stem
Of a slender palm, stood but a day;
All things fall and are built again,
And those that build them again are gay.
Two Chinamen, behind them a third,
Are carved in lapis lazuli,
Over them flies a long-legged bird,
A symbol of longevity;
The third, doubtless a serving-man,
Carries a musical instmment.
Every discoloration of the stone,
Every accidental crack or dent,
Seems a water-course or an avalanche,
Or lofty slope where it still snows
Though doubtless plum or cherry-branch
Sweetens the little half-way house
Those Chinamen climb towards, and I
Delight to imagine them seated there;
There, on the mountain and the sky,
On all the tragic scene they stare.
One asks for mournful melodies;
Accomplished fingers begin to play.
Their eyes mid many wrinkles, their eyes,
Their ancient, glittering eyes, are gay.
poem by William Butler Yeats
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Most people don't know that I am an accomplished dramatic actor... But I've performed in several Shakespeare productions including Hamlet, except in this version, Hamlet lives in an apartment with two women, and has to pretend he's gay so that the landlord won't evict him.
quote by John Ritter
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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Lear: How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest you may mar your fortunes.
line from King Lear, Act I, Scene 1 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lear: When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools.
line from King Lear, Act IV, Scene 6 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lear: You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive. I am old and foolish.
line from King Lear, Act IV, Scene 7 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lear: Where the greater malady is fix’d, the lesser is scarce felt.
line from King Lear, Act III, Scene 4 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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First Ode From King Lear - Wael Moreicheh
FIRST ODE FROM KING LEAR
LOVELY KING LEAR AND KING OF PEACE
OF PARADISE OR ANY HELL
BUT. YET MY PEACE WANTED FOR WARS
AND BRAVE HEART LIKE BLOOD OF SUNNY YEARS
ALSO AGAMEMNON WANTED FOR ACHILLES
AND am I in our boat?
WAITING FOR WAEL MOREICHEH
poem by Wael Moreicheh
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lear: She may feel how sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!
line from King Lear, Act I, Scene 4 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lear: No, I will be the pattern of all patience.
I will say nothing.
line from King Lear, Act III, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Behind the Scenes
The actor struts his little hour,
Between the limelight and the band;
The public feel the actor's power,
Yet nothing do they understand
Of all the touches here and there
That make or mar the actor's part,
They never see, beneath the glare,
The artist striving after art.
To them it seems a labour slight
Where nought of study intervenes;
You see it in another light
When once you've been behind the scenes.
For though the actor at his best
Is, like a poet, born not made,
He still must study with a zest
And practise hard to learn his trade.
So, whether on the actor's form
The stately robes of Hamlet sit,
Or as Macbeth he rave and storm,
Or plays burlesque to please the pit,
'Tis each and all a work of art,
That constant care and practice means --
The actor who creates a part
Has done his work behind the scenes.
poem by Andrew Barton Paterson
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lear: O Regan, Goneril,
Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all—
Oh, that way madness lies. Let me shun that.
No more of that.
line from King Lear, Act III, Scene 4 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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The Finer Spirit.
'Tis when the wits I have are gone
The finer powers appear;
The spirit of phantasy leads me on,
And gives my heart her cheer.
The all-licensed fool the mad king had
Was but the light of Lear,
His soul's familiar, motley clad,
That told him no lies here.
poem by Robert Crawford
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lear: Now, our joy,
Although our last, and least; to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interess’d; what can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters?
line from King Lear, Act I, Scene 1 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Lear: Nothing will come of nothing.
line from King Lear, Act I, Scene 1 by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Hamlet: Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what
replication should be made by the son of a king?
line from Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Hamlet: Let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king’s mess.
line from Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Rosencrantz: Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
Hamlet: Ay, sir, that soaks up the king’s countenance, his rewards, his authorities.
line from Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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