shakespeare writing about sin and vice and hypocrisy but setting it in Vienna so Queen Lizzie doesn't come down too hard on him, iconic. shakespeare writing about sin and vice and hypocrisy but setting it in Vienna so Queen Lizzie doesn't come down too hard on him, iconic. ...more
an underrated shakespeare play in my opinion. Like, unpopular opinion but it's actually good & more enjoyable then Some Plays (cough. king lear. )an underrated shakespeare play in my opinion. Like, unpopular opinion but it's actually good & more enjoyable then Some Plays (cough. king lear. )...more
"When we are born, we cry that we are come To this great stage of fools."
Not my favourite Shakespeare to read but the tragedies never are. I'll wat
"When we are born, we cry that we are come To this great stage of fools."
Not my favourite Shakespeare to read but the tragedies never are. I'll watch a recording of this live and might like it more, but was a bit confusing with too many characters for me reading it.
its been 420 years but Benedick and Beatrice are still That Couple actual enemies to lovers excellence
This is probably my favourite Shakespeare play its been 420 years but Benedick and Beatrice are still That Couple actual enemies to lovers excellence
This is probably my favourite Shakespeare play I have seen yet. I read the script while also watching the filmed Globe performance and like .. its genuinely still laugh out loud funny. The Claudio storyline is annoying, but Hero is such a better character than Desdemona who has a similar plot line - Beatrice and Benedick are funny and sweet, and like I love them both.
This deserves a really fun and good modern adaptation honestly ...more
Hamlet teaches us all an important lesson. If you keep your head down, stay doing gay shit with your friends at college and never come home you'll be Hamlet teaches us all an important lesson. If you keep your head down, stay doing gay shit with your friends at college and never come home you'll be okay
in all seriousness, Hamlet insisting on wearing black all the time and frequently monologuing about how every decision is too hard and he's a mess is Relatable TM so I love him...more
University reading. An interesting play revolving around Yoruba culture based on a true story. I found some of the dialogue difficult to read but it wUniversity reading. An interesting play revolving around Yoruba culture based on a true story. I found some of the dialogue difficult to read but it would be an AMAZING play to see live. ...more
“HAMM: We're not beginning to... to... mean something? CLOV: Mean something! You and I, mean something! (Brief laugh.) Ah that's a good one!”
Absurd
“HAMM: We're not beginning to... to... mean something? CLOV: Mean something! You and I, mean something! (Brief laugh.) Ah that's a good one!”
Absurd theatre and existentialist lit isn't for everyone ... but I really enjoy it. I couldn't tell you why, but something about the themes and the pointlessness (?) of it all really appeals to me. I know some people find the idea of Hamms parents living in Ash bins and Clov not being able to sit ect ect reallt stupid but something about that stupidity is charming to me.
“Use your head, can't you, use your head, you're on earth, there's no cure for that!”
The whole thing just kind of appeals to me, sort of intellectually? Its weird because I wouldn't call myself an existentialist but I think that they at least pose interesting question and observations about life and meaningless
“Nothing is funnier than unhappiness, I grant you that… Yes, yes, it's the most comical thing in the world. And we laugh, we laugh, with a will, in the beginning. But it's always the same thing. Yes, it's like the funny story we have heard too often, we still find it funny, but we don't laugh any more.”
I don't mind shakespeare. Lets say that right up, I've quite enjoyed watching some of his plays - but I don't like Merchant of Venice
Sure, it's got soI don't mind shakespeare. Lets say that right up, I've quite enjoyed watching some of his plays - but I don't like Merchant of Venice
Sure, it's got some good aspects. Portia, the beautiful lady who arrives just in time to save the day. Shylock, the antagonised figure who, I think, is more of a tragic hero then a villain. The banter and the laughs - Portia's critical assessment of her suitors, the humour of the pound of flesh taken from the part "closest to your heart"
((( seriously there are SO many dick jokes in this play )))
BUt I don't know, while this play has some good moments and some GREAT moments. (Shylock's speeches, Portia's saviour, the conversation in Act 5 scene 1 between Lorenzo and Jessica) overrall I just don't like it. In this age, I honestly think you can't view it as any more then racist dribble, and I know it's shakespeare and those were the times blah blah but it still doesn't make for GREAT reading. And honestly ? it's boring compared to some of shakespeares other comedies. Although I do like that the humour is more subtle then it is in like, A Midsummer Nights Dream.
With almost all shakespeare plays, I think reading this and others is stupid. It's all about that stage adaptation, and which directors make artistic choices with their actors which suit your interpretations of the book - the original script is just kind of pointless. ...more
No problems with Othello, but don't find it to be Shakespeare's best play, you feel?
I really love (or love to hate) Iago though. He's such a clever aNo problems with Othello, but don't find it to be Shakespeare's best play, you feel?
I really love (or love to hate) Iago though. He's such a clever and well constructed villian and I find him to be one of the most cunning and intriguing characters because his motivations and aims are never 100% clear and I like that.
Some iconic lines though "beware of jealousy, for it is the green eyed monster" I mean it's classic Shakespeare. Also I feel so sorry for Cassio bc he honestly just came out here to have a good time and then he gets attacked outta nowhere by Iago and peer pressured into drinking too much like it's not really not a great time for Michael Cassio
Also Iago is such a drama queen lmao I mean "I am not what I am" pls you're so pretentious don't quote the bible to me
But yeah don't love it, definitely don't hate it. (Although! reading the script is such a bore I'm seeing a play version of it next week and that'll be much better) ...more
“Love blinds. We have both tried to give our sons, not what they needed, but what we needed. We’ve been so busy trying to rewrite our own pasts, we
“Love blinds. We have both tried to give our sons, not what they needed, but what we needed. We’ve been so busy trying to rewrite our own pasts, we’ve blighted their present.”
So I did it. The book that has been hurting my poor, Harry Potter loving heart since it's release last month. Honestly, I don't know how to feel.
I went into this with very low expectations. I've read the spoilers, I've seen the reviews. I've seen so many criticisms of this, of J.K, of the writing the plot the characters. You name it - I've seen hate on it.
I think those criticism are founded. CURSED CHILD does not feel like the Harry Potter I grew up with. It doesn't feel like Hogwarts. It's all so wrong. It really does read like a fanfic.
The first thing that struck me was like - Wow. Harry Potter and co. are OLD. And I know this might be weird but it immediately disengaged me from them. Immediately I was unable to connect with them as I had before. When I read Harry Potter the first time he was a kid like me - I loved to go on adventures with him, to deal with the trials of school with him. His day to day life was relatable, I mean, I was a kid too. A kid who envied HIS childhood. But I mean ?! 40 year old Harry. I can't roll with that. He's immediately unrelatable to me. Alot of dialogue from Harry / Ron / Hermione was them complaining about the hardships of being old. And it's just ?? It loses the magic. It immediately pulls the magical story of wizard schools and dragons and spells and potions into something so incredibly mundane and Harry Potter should never feel mundane.
The next thing that struck me was the characterization. These people are not the Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco ect. we grew up with. They're just not. In fact - half the time I was left wondering if Jack Thorne ever read the books - because these portrayals are soo movie. Ron was reduced to a wise-cracking fool who wasn't capable of anything. He felt like a weird stand-in for Fred and George Weasley. He didn't feel like Ron. Hermione was just ? silly ? So many of the things she did were soo out of character. She was stupid, she bent for others, there was a part where she refused to defend Harry and Ron? (I'm sorry but Hermione ALWAYS defends them so smh). I just ? It was all wrong.
BUT THE BIGGEST ABOMINATION, the absolute heartbreak of this book resides in the charactersation of my #1 son, Harry James Potter. Now you listen here, Harry Potter is my child. I HAVE CRIED FOR THIS BOY TOO MANY TIMES. Ok ay I don't appreciate when people try to mess with his personality and call it Canon. This was not Harry Potter. His dialogue made no sense - it completely disregarded some of the fundamental aspects of his character. His respect ? gone. His sarcastic humour? gone. His unflinching bravery ? gone. His selflessness ? gone. Harry was SO RUDE, he was so mean !?! And so much of it didn't make sense.
(view spoiler)[ He perpetrates rumours Scorp is Voldy's son even though he, as a child, had to also deal with terrible rumours and should sympathise. And WOULD sympathise since he's a sympathetic guy. The fact he hates Al for being a Slytherin. His treatment of McGonagall who's always been a friend/mentor to him and someone he deeply respects. His treatment of Albus with the whole map thing ?? THE FACT IT WAS EVEN SUGGESTED HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT CEDRIC DYING. No no no no no no no no. (hide spoiler)]
the only bit I liked, when I was like ayy it's ma BOY was (view spoiler)[when he wouldn't let anyone volunteer to take on Delphi like ofc he wasn't gonna let you guys this is Harry Potter (hide spoiler)] ALL IN ALL JACK THORNE GET UR GRUBBY HANDS OFF OF HARRY POTTER HE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT.
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“They were great men, with huge flaws, and you know what – those flaws almost made them greater.”
Ok. Plotwise. The plot is kind of fun, if you ignore the huge plot holes and failure to grasp some of the basics of the actual canon. I mean, the time travel aspect was fun, and if you try not to think about it too much and ignore all the crazy conveniences that popped up to move it along it does pass as a plausible plot.
But jokes because I DO think about it too much. (PS. UNTAGGED SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT YOU'VE BEEN WARNED)
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We'll start with the time turner, shall we? First of all - ok. I could accept it existed, I could allow myself that reach BUT THEN HERMIONE HIDING IT IN A BOOKCASE. wtf nooo. I mean, why tf even hide it with riddles that's ridiculous. Surely she's smarter then this (SHE IS SMARTER THEN THIS)
Going back in time to save Cedric ????
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Again, surely Albus and Scorp are smarter than this. Clearly thats a terrible idea. Clearly its not going to work. This whole plot point was just such a stretch. I don't know why they thought it was a good idea. It wasn't and any decent, mildly intelligent wizard should know that. (I know that and I'm a goddamn muggle)
Okay. The fact that Cedric was so embarrassed it turned him evil ? wtf wtf JUST WHY. The fact he killed Neville and became a Death Eater. Can ! We ! Not ! Disrespect ! His ! Character ! Like ! This !
Oooh boy! And we haven't even got into the big thing yet. Delphi . . . .. . fucking Delphi.. GOD just NO. I mean, first of all practically it doesn't even fit in with the canon timeline (Delphi was born @ Malfoy manor before the battle of hogwarts and yet Hermione/Ron/Harry were there before the battle with Bellatrix aND SHE WASN'T PREGNANT FOR SURE. Also, the insinuation Astoria was involved (possibly raped?) by Voldermort was .. really icky. ? I didn't like that at all. Anyway, all in all that whole thing was a mess. EVEN IF voldermort COULD have kids (which lbr he probs can't) Voldermort was never available to do that, he had no reason. ?!?! URGH JUST PLS STOP it was so bad.
Finally, I was really annoyed the villian was Voldermort yet again. I'm sorry but it's soo lazy. Could they have not thought up something new and funky fresh. It would have been refreshing. Voldermort coming back is So Tired and just destoys the entire point of 7 books. Voldermort is dead! Gone ! finished ! We didn't go on that horcrux hunt for nothing !!!!!! just urrrrrrgh
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okay other weird plot points. Albus kissing his aunt ??? g ross. The convenience of Draco HAPPENING to have another (flawless) time turner The weird outbursts from Harry at Minerva? The "Evil base" being in a wizards old people's home (what ) TeDDY LUPIN WASN'T IN IT Rose ? ? ? ?? Rose and Scorp ??? ( sorry but there's NO chemistry there and Al and Scorp are canon boyfriends) The bit when they watch James/Lily die. The fact Harry is all 'I have to see it' even though he has seen it. Deathly Hallows. In extreme detail. It was just really uncomfortable to me.
THE BIT WHEN THE TRAIN LADY ATTACKED THEM WHAT WAS THAT WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK [image]
OTHER NOTE I was also disappointed on an authorial level by J.K in this. Honestly, I was expecting more diversity. J.K champions diverse Lit on twitter, but lets be real she had a great oppurtunity to implement that and it fell through. TRUE, you can argue Hermione is black but it's not explicit so it doesn't mean anything. They could have made anyone more diverse. (The queerbaiting on Al and Scorp was REAL) but instead it's all "white and straight" and idk I'm just a bit disappointed in her for that.
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Ok. But what did I like ?
Okay. It is fun. In a fanfic kind of way it is a fun story. We should never consider this canon, but it is entertaining. I did read it in one day. And I'm damn willing to bet the stage is amazing. The stage directions and settings were really amazing and I think implemented this show would be, aesthetically, really nice.
I also appreciated Draco's redemption arc. That was nice, and you know what, deserved. I appreciated Snape's a little less, because I hate snape forever and always but if you're a fan I can see you'd appreciate that too.
I appreciated Ginny's take on being possessed and how NO ONE helped her after Chamber of Secrets .. which .. was true. I AM SO SHOOK ABOUT HOW RON SAID EVERYONE THOUGHT SHE'D BE A SLYTHERIN LIEK GODFUCKING DAMN YES YES BEAUTIFUL
I also quite liked Draco's little revelations about being jealous of the trio, and of not revealing Harry at Malfoy Manor which - ok yeah was solid work.
It was just everything else that was a mess. You cannot take this seriously because it wILL fall flat. But if you are able to detach yourself from the characters and try not to view them as the one's we know and love perhaps you'd really enjoy it. I'm not able to do that, however. Which is why I can't give this any more than a 3*. It deserves a 2, sentimentality makes me bump it up to a 2.5 and that's my FINAL RATING.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? 2.5*. Sorry, not sorry.
NOTE: Sick of people telling me I didn't like this because it's a script. No. No I've read scripts before, I've read scripts and loved them. This isn't bad because it's a script. It's bad because it reduces our characters to uninspired tropes, because it's full of plot holes and because it's lazy. Bye !
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