The Super
When I was with a Shakespeare show
I played the part of Guildenstern,
Or Rosenkrantz - at least I know
It wasn't difficult to learn;
By Reader, do not at me scoff,
For futhermore I should explain
I was the understudy of
The understudy of the Dane.
Oh how it crabbed me just to think
They barred me from that role divine;
And how I longed to have them drink
A cup of slightly poisoned wine!
At every night with struts and rants
I strove my quid a week to earn,
And put my soul in Rosenkrantz -
Or was it haply, Guildenstern.
Alas! I might have spared by breath,
I never played the noble Dane;
And yet when Irving staged Macbeth
I bore a tree of Dunsinane,
And yearned for that barn-storming day,
Of hopes and dreams and patchy pants,
When Guildenstern I'd proudly play -
Or was, maybe, Rosenkrantz?
poem by Robert William Service
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
King Claudius: Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.
Queen Gertrude: Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:
And I beseech you instantly to visit my too much changed son.
line from Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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First Ambassador: The ears are senseless that should give us hearing,
To tell him his commandment is fulfill’d,
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:
Where should we have our thanks?
line from Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Hamlet: Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts.
line from Hamlet, Act II, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.
Tom Stoppard in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.
Tom Stoppard in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dane-Geld
A.D. 980-1016
It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation
To call upon a neighbour and to say:--
"We invaded you last night--we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away."
And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you've only to pay 'em the Dane-geld
And then you'll get rid of the Dane!
It is always a temptation for a reach and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say:--
"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the
time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away."
And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
But we've proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane.
It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray;
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say:--
"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!"
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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We are tied down to a language that makes up in obscurity what it lacks in style.
Tom Stoppard in Rosencranz And Guildenstern Are Dead
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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We do on stage things that are supposed to happen off. Which is a kind of integrity, if you look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.
Tom Stoppard in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, 1967
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My part had three lines. I said, 'You look wonderful, sir,' three times. All my friends said, 'Do not take that role - and do not understudy. You'll regret it the rest of your life.' I did both of those things, and I've never regretted it once.
quote by Jeffrey Tambor
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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And that is called paying the Dane-geld; but we've proved it again and again, that if once you have paid him the Dane-geld you never get rid of the Dane.
quote by Rudyard Kipling
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Star Is Born
The leading man walked onto the stage,
the house lights dimmed, a hush descended,
the play was about to begin.
A drama, powerful and dramatic.
Breaths were held, not one body moved.
Suddenly, he spoke.
'Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm afraid to have to inform you,
that our leading lady has been struck down by laryngitis,
therefore, the show is cancelled'.
Mumblings, rumblings, getting louder and louder.
'Not good enough' shouted someone.
'Sit down and shut up', shouted another.
Uproar! Pandemonium!
'Where's the understudy then? ' came from a third.
'She's also indisposed, I'm sorry to say', but your money
will be refunded in the foyer'.
'I know the part', a voice called from way down in the orchestra pit.
'If you'll give me a minute,
I'll go and change, and this show can start'.
Everyone sat down in amazement! '.
This small tiny girl, was bravely taking on the big leading role.
A hush descended in the auditorium,
and the curtains parted.
As the finale ended, there was a standing ovation.
The audience were thrilled.
The girl took a bow.
The orchestra played 'God Save The Queen'
and everyone clapped and cheered.
For here on this stage, this night, a star was born!
poem by Ernestine Northover
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Scotland's Story
Michael McGrory from west Donegal
You came to Glasgow with nothing at all
You fought the landlord then the Afrika Korps
When you came to Glasgow with nothing at all
Abraham Caplan from Vilnius you came
You were heading for New York, but Leith's where you've stayed
You built a great business which benefits all
Since you came to this land with nothing at all
In Scotland's story I read that they came
The Gael and the Pict, the Angle and Dane
But so did the Irishman, Jew and Ukraine
They're all Scotland's story and they're all worth the same
Joseph D'Angelo dreams of the days
When Italian kids in the Grassmarket played
We burned out his shop when the boys went to war
But auld Joe's a big man and he forgave all
In Scotland's story I'm told that they came
The Gael and the Pict, the Angle and Dane
But where's all the Chinese and Indian names?
They're in my land's story and they're all worth the same
Christina McKay, I learned of your name
How you travelled south from Delny one day
You raised a whole family in one room they say
And the X on the line stands in place of your name
So in the old story I'll bet that I came
From Gael and Pict and Angle and Dane
And a poor migrant girl who could not write her name
It's a common old story, but it's mine just the same
All through the story the immigrants came
The Gael and the Pict, the Angle and Dane
From Pakistan, England and from the Ukraine
We're all Scotland's story and we're all worth the same
Your Scotland's story is worth just the same
song performed by by Proclaimers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Hero And The Theif
I'll play the part of the hero,
You play the role of the thief.
With sword in hand
I take my stand.
I take my stand right here.
You played your part
And stole her heart
While the hero goes away.
But I'll return
To save the girl
When I come back some day.
I walk the longest road
Past castles and through time.
On my way home I'm coming
To save the world I left behind.
Years gone by as time fades away.
I'm longing for the day
That I return
Knowing that I've earned
To see her smiling face.
You've played your part
And stole her heart
While the hero was away.
Now I've returned
To save the girl
Banish you from today.
I've played my part as the hero
You've played your role as the thief.
I've saved the girl
And saved the world
The hero and the thief.
poem by Ricky Perron
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You Have To Learn To Live Alone
We sleep together, close and warm
We calm each other through the storm
We set up home, but in a while
Were tempted by anothers smile
When its all played out
If the truth were known
You have to learn to live alone
We dance around the fading light
You hold me closer every night
You fell in love but I did not
But in the end youre all Ive got
When its all played out
When the truth is known
You have to learn to live alone
We fly around the world too fast
We cannot make one moment last
We love the crowd, we sing and play
We do it all, we get our way
When its all played out
When the bird has flown
You have to learn to live alone
When were all played out
If the truth were known
You have to learn to live alone
song performed by by Cyndi Lauper
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Macbeth: Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
line from Macbeth, Act V, Scene V by William Shakespeare (1606)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Without a Hint of Wisdom
Caught up in the 'what ifs' and 'whys'.
And not seeing eye to eye with a reality
That has longed called for their attention!
No one wants to mention that.
They would rather play cat and mouse games.
And play tag with an upcoming disaster!
This will be their glory!
And their claim to fame.
This they play...
Is the ignorant game,
Played their way!
Caught up in the 'what ifs' and 'whys',
Have been those who chose to lie all their lives.
Storytelling their way to prescribed drugs!
And many find them pleasant to be around.
It then becomes no secret kept as to 'why'.
This they play...
Is the ignorant game,
Played their way!
When they are seen caught up,
In the 'what ifs and 'whys' of life.
It becomes clearly understood without question,
They have been detached much longer...
Than they were thought to be deranged!
And 'this' those who know,
Have found attractive to show...
As a destination.
To astound the nonbelievers!
This they play...
Is the ignorant game,
Played their way!
Caught up in the 'what ifs' and 'whys'.
And not seeing eye to eye with a reality
That has longed called for their attention!
No one wants to mention that.
They would rather play cat and mouse games.
And play tag with an upcoming disaster!
This will be their glory!
And their claim to fame.
This they play...
Is the ignorant game,
Played their way!
For lives that stay tricked,
Without a hint of wisdom...
Exiting from their lips!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Song For Suzanne
Written by dennis deyoung
Lead vocals by dennis deyoung
Chanson, suzanne
Chanson, suzanne
Chanson, suzanne
Chanson, suzanne
Im just a man
Please let me
Sing my song
Its been ten years
Since I met you
And I first held your hand
My suzanne
That summer night
We dreamed of
Days to come
I held you there
Beside me
We carved the wishing tree
And then
We played the part of lovers
On that summer night
We played the part of lovers
You gave all your love and you made it seem right
You made me a man oh so young in my life
One simple verse
Like the words in a play
You spoke your lines
And I knew I must stay
Oh I must stay
Now we are free
And we are growing old
The wishing tree still stands there
And shades our memories
Of when
We played the part of lovers
On that summer night
We played the part of lovers
You gave all your love and you made it seem right
You made me a man oh so young in my life
song performed by by Styx
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hamlet: Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother.
line from Hamlet, Act V, Scene 2 by William Shakespeare (1599)
Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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I'm shooting a pilot based on my show. It's a one-camera show. I play myself.
Church of the Little Drummer Boy
He didn't do it for money,
He didn't to it for power,
It wasn't an inside job,
And he probably wasn't real.
But he wasn't controlled by the Mafia,
Maybe he was just a dream,
Or maybe just a hope,
Of what Christmas might mean.
Over the years many a child
Has heard of the Little Drummer Boy,
How he played his drum for Jesus
To bring the Baby some joy.
He didn't do it to be a big shot,
He wasn't Ginger Baker,
He played out of musical love,
And he wasn't a faker.
If you're looking for religion,
The Drummer Boy is good to go,
I mean, he's as churchy as it gets,
Considering the show.
poem by Richard Jarboe
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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