SHAKESPEARE HELP!!

[joe4]

Posted: 10/18/05 at 9:02pm

I am doing the Queen Mab monologue for a district competition, and I am wondering how I should approach it. any ideas? thanks

[Pinguin]

Posted: 10/19/05 at 11:28am

Well, I mean, just like with all Shakespeare make sure you go through what all of the words mean (you HAVE to know exactly what you're saying) and then approach it like any other monologue -find specific actions to play, etc. It'll also probably work best as a very physical monologue, so work with the physicality of Mercutio. There is probably a lot you can read about this monologue, because it's one of those oddities in Shakespeare's texts.

Have fun with it! it's a great piece.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/19/05 at 12:13pm

I played Mercutio in R & J a few years ago. I remember being very physical with the monologue, because Mercutio is they type to always want to be the center of attention and spout his philsophies to anyone who would listen. I also directed the majority of the monologue towards Romeo.

The trick is with any monologue(or song for that matter) is to find the trigger(what makes him go into the monologue), the audience(who the monologue is spoken to), and the objective(why the monologue is spoken). Once you simplify the speech to these three things(I suggest writing them down), then you can focus on the various levels and tactics of the speech, the changes in rythm, etc.

[Racetrack]

Posted: 10/19/05 at 6:53pm

I say if you can go to the library find a copy of Harrold Bloom's Shakespeare. I can't remember the exact title, but it analyzes the plays and characters which just for background may give you a good idea for character choices. Also discover what it is that triggers this character to say the Mab speech. That's my favorite speech in Romeo and Juliet by the way. So good luck! Break a leg!

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 3:00pm

Harrold Bloom is god when in comes to analyzing shakespeare and things. At least for me...

Posted: 10/20/05 at 6:43pm

hey! I'm sort of having the same issue Im celia in our production of As You Like IT and I totally love it, however at first it was a bit tricky. Just have fun with it and maybe look up translations? My friend has the sparknotes with the modern translations in it. I don't know I'm definitely not the best shakespeare person in the world, I just know what I did/am doing lol.

*cassie*

[Racetrack]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 6:52pm

I was supposed to play Celia this last summer for my Shakespeare playhouse thing, but had to drop out. Too much stress, but I don't regret it. I like Celia better than Rosalind anyway. good luck.