Every play needs a proper send-off as I amble through the PonyTail Shakespeare read-through – bearing in mind my current pace, there’s no telling when I might read them again.
As ever, the selection is a little, erratic, and I’m already feeling the need to disown any implied connection to number 3 …
Continue reading “PTS 014/089: The Merchant of Venice Soundtrack Album”
Just as this play is hard to pigeonhole, so the King John Soundtrack has easily been the most difficult to put together.
So much so that although I usually manage at least double-figures, but not today.
The usual question therefore takes on greater urgency …
WHAT HAVE I MISSED?
There’s an irony that the PTS read-through project has significantly slowed when dealing with the plays I know best.
Mostly, I think it’s because I’ve had too much to say, and been unable to stick to a post-per-act; a post-per-scene is a killer.
So, at least for the moment, I’m moving on from Romeo and Juliet: there’s plenty of room for future posts if I want to revisit it, but I’m hungry for my next new play.
That leaves one thing to do before I move on, and that’s produce the now-traditional soundtrack album.
The eternal question is, of course: WHAT’S MISSING? Drop me a line and let me know …
Continue reading “PTS 12/077: Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack Album”
And so to our traditional end-of-play knees-up.
The usual defiantly embarrassing mix-tape, in no particular order, with the usual plea: if I’ve missed anything, please let me know!
Continue reading “PTS 11/070: The Richard II Soundtrack Album”
Nothing compares to WHO?
Today marks two year since Prince died. It’s not that long ago that I confessed that his was one of the very few celebrity deaths that have personally touched me. Step aside, Princess Diana! People have got tired of me saying he was the ‘effing Mozart of his age‘, I think.
This weekend is a busy one – or should be. One of my favourite watering holes, Beerwolf, are hosting a live music tribute on Sunday afternoon, marvellously entitled ‘Prince you’ve been gone‘. I suspect this might put a dent in my Sixth Form marking – sorry, people.
Whilst there’s an argument to be made that Shakespeare himself was a multi-faceted genius, you know me by now: I started thinking about who the Shakespearean ‘Prince’ might be. These were my criteria …
The Dream seemed an easy hit for songs from several genres and decades …
As ever, Shakespeare’s Jukebox provides a quick chance to cut loose and be a little mischievous between read-through plays.
Also, to embarrass myself, not least with my dodgy 80s credentials …
Finally to ask the time-honoured question:
What’s missing?
Let me know below!
Continue reading “PTS 10/063: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Soundtrack”
Imagine, if you have been following, the difficulty in putting a soundtrack album together for Love’s Labour’s Lost – a play I was largely disconnected from and apathetic about.
Still, some thought and a trawl through my embarrassing CD collection served up a dozen or so songs, and a few pointers for others.
Question is – as always – what have I missed?
Continue reading “PTS 09/057: The Love’s Labour’s Lost soundtrack”
Another selection of songs curated with the characters in mind …
As usual, the PonyTail Shakespeare read-through of a play ends with a ‘Soundtrack Album’.
As usual, it probably says a lot about my poor taste in music.
As usual, I’d love you to let me know what’s missing …
Continue reading “PTS 08/050: The Comedy of Errors Soundtrack Album”
There’s a lot of unjustifiable hate out there for Titus Andronicus, I think.
Jonathan Bate introduces the play by saying that:
‘Even those who have approached Titus in a spirit of scholarly enquiry rather than critical judgement have been prejudiced by their distaste for the play […] nearly all scholars suppose that it is a very early work, a piece of crude and embarrassing juvenilia. I believe that every one of these arguments is wrong.
I’m with Prof. Bate. This was a rollercoaster ride. Although it does sketch issues we’ll see fleshed out in Lear and other ‘greats’, it’s a remarkable Revenge play, with a strong tragic journey and an utterly evil villain that surpasses any other I can readily think of. It also spoke strongly to me about public service, and the rewards thereof – especially for our armed forces.
So here’s my soundtrack album for the play. What’s missing?
Continue reading “PTS 06/038: The Titus Andronicus soundtrack album …”
Slowly but surely I’m building my Shakespeare Jukebox, with a soundtrack album for each play I tick off in the Ponytail Shakespeare read-through.
Here’s my Taming Of The Shrew Soundtrack Album (and I make no apologies at all for my dubious and decidedly old taste in music: let me know what’s missing, you young whippersnappers …
Continue reading “PTS 04/026: The Taming Of The Shrew Soundtrack Album”
The Boar's Head, Eastcheap 