Happy birth- and death-day William Shakespeare

One of the best playwrights ever on Broadway!

---

But Shakespeare, who was the Neil Simon (who was the Neil Simon of his day) of his day, had the poetic impulse to die on the anniversary of his birth.

---

I saw Amy Freed's The Beard of Avon. I left unconvinced.

---

It's worth remembering that Shakespere was the first celeb to bring out a range of cosmetics. Why only last week I got an Avon catalog (did I spell that right?) through my door.

It's totally fascinating. And the traditionalist in me wants to defend the Stratford Shakespeare against all comers. But the realist in me thinks the Oxford champion makes more sense. (Assuming those are the two still in play.)

Either way, it's a riveting argument.

Updated On: 4/24/10 at 11:25 PM

I just find it difficult to believe that the man from Stratford had access to the knowledge and experience demonstrated in those plays. He wouldn't have had the money or the power to access the visas to travel to the lands he knew so much about. And that's just the starting point in why it's most likely that "William Shakespeare" is a pseudonym.

Team Eddie!

---

Romeo & Juliet was totally the GLEE of it's time.

I remain unconvinced by the alternates to Will as well, mostly because the entire argument begins from a place of cultural superiority.

Those who began the "Who is the real Shakespeare?" and offered up Bacon as the alternate just could not allow that a non-noble would be able to produce the plays. While it is true that there is a great deal of knowledge that was not easy to access in the plays neither are they so highly intellectual that it seems necessary they were written by a true classicist.

It seems better for the lyrical romantic view of art, and while difficult certainly within the realm of possibility, that Will was Will. In the end the discussion is what I think makes it compelling. In fact I just had a great conversation last week with some (very smart) high school students who were really interested in the question, and because of it really drawn farther into the plays. I think that is a win/win.

---

I didn't think you were making that argument Jerby, just that that was a very large part of the original argument.
I have never thought it mattered, and personally see lots of the evidence you do that makes it look like Edward is the answer.

In the end though I like the idea of Shakespeare better, in the same way that I like the idea of Homer. So it is all good.

---

The details, darling--not the plot lines.

Though, how many languages did the Stratford Shakespeare speak? Some of his sources were not in English.

ETA: Latin and French most likely and possibly some Italian or he had a friend who could read Italian.

---

Updated On: 4/24/10 at 10:35 PM

How so?

---

I thought you meant something by it. I do get the allusion. lol

---