By: William Shakespeare
personal copy
Published: 1599ish . . . (this printing 1904)
Genre: comedy play
I re-read this because my daughter-in-law Mari was in a Grand Marais production of the musical version by Shaina Taub this summer. I didn't remember the story well enough to have a good grasp of the characters, plot, etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed the musical! Mari is so talented and the entire cast definitely seemed to be enjoying themselves. I was surprised by how faithful the musical was to the original source material, yet had modern-day language and elements as well.
Sadly, my book is a 1904 print and the cover is a little worse for wear by being toted around with me. Books are meant to be read, so I'm trying to decide if I leave it a little ragged or try to repair it.
Mari played Phoebe and the song "She Phoebed Me" ran through my head a lot! Rosalind and Orlando (and other couples) have their happy ever after.
I actually put in two post-its! (Though there were many, many places I paused to think and could comment about.)
Act II Scene vii: Duke Senior "What would you have? Your gentleness shall force, More than your force move us to gentleness."
Orlando has burst into the woods scene with a sword drawn, hoping to get food for his elderly servant Adam. The Duke (and his companions) are perfectly happy to provide food and rest, but his comment to Orlando made me think of the saying, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
Act II Scene vii: Jaques "All the worlds' a stage, And all the men and women merely players: . . . "
I didn't remember that this speech came from As You Like It! It was like coming across a little gem.
