Love's Labour's Lost: Play Discussion

Ariana has a chat with director Bronwyn Barnwell about her Radio Shakespeare Lab production of Love’s Labour’s Lost with her dream cast! We are joined by some of the actors from her production to discuss the play and process including Dr. Charlie Morton, Preston Perrin, Ly Poe, Alexander Mushore, with Ian Gould.

Among many things, we talk about the remarkably difficulty of the language of this play, the unique process of creation in isolation, metatheacricality, character doubles, rhyming, romantic fools, women as strong political figures called away for duty, how each character is clever in a distinctive way, Boyet as a Puck-like figure, significance of nationalities, math and numerology, and dirty language.

Be sure to catch Love’s Labour’s Lost over on Radio Shakespeare Lab over the next five Fridays! 

Taming of the Shrew: Act V Discussion

Anddd we are on to our Act 5 ofTaming of the Shrew discussion…ok here we go.

Among many things we talk Kate and Petruchio turning into spectators and watching other public disorders, flashbacks to the induction where character upon character reinforces the lie, Bianca’s personality change, hierarchy and freedom, the weird of dynamics of the end, and what on earth happens to Sly.

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Taming of the Shrew: Act IV Discussion Part II

On to part 2 of our discussion of Act IV of Taming of the Shrew! (This episode covers scenes 3-5.)

We talked imitating behaviors, entitlement and reality checks, changing social perceptions, appearance vs value, provoking reactions and contradictions, ethical dilemmas, and the act of taking responsibility .

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Taming of the Shrew: Act IV Discussion Part I

We move on to part 1 of our discussion of Act IV of Taming of the Shrew! (This episode covers scenes 1 & 2.)

Among many things we discussed Grumio’s garbled thoughts, status relationships within Petruchio’s household staff, servants noting behavioral changes, Kate beginning to prevent violence, Shakespeare implicating the entire audience, entitlement and teamwork, the ethical dilemma of Petruchio’s behavior, Bianca and Kate both being referred to as headstrong haggards (or strong-willed birds of prey), and Tranio’s constant status shifting. 

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Taming of the Shrew: Act III Discussion

And off we go to Act 3 of Taming of the Shrew! 

We discuss how all of Bianca’s suitors are under false pretenses, how the suitors are more interested in competing with each other than actually getting to know Bianca, the connection to the Lord’s game of messing with Christopher Sly, the lack of danger or class barriers in Lucentio’s and Hortensio’s disguises, Kate trying out new tactics, Petruchio’s rejection of societal norms, and the heavy cultural baggage of staging this play. 

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Taming of the Shrew: Act II Discussion

It’s time for Act II of Taming of the Shrew when Kate and Petruchio finally meet! 

Among many things we discussed entering the private realm of the household, sibling rivalry and family dynamics, fighting over the same object, the bidding war over Bianca versus the war of words for Katherine, and challenging received interpretations of the play and the central relationship.

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Taming of the Shrew: Act I Discussion

Join us as we dive into the play within the play, Act I of Taming of the Shrew!

Among many things we talk about bro energy, the play’s emphasis on education for both young men and young women, Katherine as truth-teller, the complicated relationships between status and violence, performances of submission, and how the entire plays is based on disguises and lies, the set up for a classic farce.

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Taming of the Shrew: Induction Discussion

Oh goodness, it’s time for Taming of the Shrew. Welcome to a brand new difficult and complicated play and enjoy our discussion of the unique and puzzling “Induction” at the start of the play.

We talk about what exactly the induction is and its significance, actors as vagrants, the Lord as a wanna-be immersive theatre director, the thematic set up of people pretending to be what they are not and the danger of the theater, and a deep dive into whose reality are we lost in?

Our Ensemble for this production includes: Brittany Chandler, Mairi Chanel, Caryl Farkas, Elizabeth Glass, Morgan Hollingsworth, Grayson Kirtland, Zoe Margolis, Nicholas Koy Santillo, Ali Tallman, Will Wilder facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act V Discussion

Oh boy…here we are. We have gotten to Act 5 of Two Gentlemen of Verona…

We discuss Silvia constantly being under surveillance, male friendship erasing romantic love, is it all a parody, celebrations of male mediocrity, property and possession being the ending themes of the play and desperately wondering where the clowns are, we really miss them.

Our ensemble for Two Gentlemen of Verona includes Samantha Blinn, Miles Blitch, Sam Gilroy as Valentine, Larry Gleason, Ellyn Heald, Jane Henzerling, Isabel Karp, Mitchel Kawash, Colin Kohrs, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act IV Discussion

Finally, we get to spend a bit of time with Silvia & Julia in Act 4 of Two Gentlemen of Verona!

Among many things we discuss the outlaws as threatening/non-threatening, the strength of Silvia’s character, how Proteus language is transforming again into desperation and veering on violence, Lance’s devotion to Crab as the purest love in the play and a refreshing scene of female solidarity that ends this act.

Our ensemble for Two Gentlemen of Verona includes Samantha Blinn, Miles Blitch, Sam Gilroy as Valentine, Larry Gleason, Ellyn Heald, Jane Henzerling, Isabel Karp, Mitchel Kawash, Colin Kohrs, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act III Discussion

What time is it? Betrayal time! Off we go with Act 3 of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

In this pivotal act, we discuss the difference between male vs female ‘honor,’ the awkward circling between the Duke and Valentine, Silvia as a sacred being, Proteus discovering his skill as a manipulator and getting drunk off of the power and the necessary collective exhale of Lance and Speed parodying the catalogue of womanly virtues.

Our ensemble for Two Gentlemen of Verona includes Samantha Blinn, Miles Blitch, Sam Gilroy as Valentine, Larry Gleason, Ellyn Heald, Jane Henzerling, Isabel Karp, Mitchel Kawash, Colin Kohrs, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act II Discussion

We move on to Act II of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

We discuss servants freely sassing their employers, Valentine’s metamorphosis, how the women drive the romantic plots forward, courtly versus romantic love, how the character Lance is always undercutting or parodying the previous scene, Proteus’s transformation and his character conflict centered around Valentine, not his sweetheart, Julia, and how Crab, the dog, is the best scene stealer in the canon!

Our ensemble for Two Gentlemen of Verona includes Samantha Blinn, Miles Blitch, Sam Gilroy as Valentine, Larry Gleason, Ellyn Heald, Jane Henzerling, Isabel Karp, Mitchel Kawash, Colin Kohrs, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Two Gentlemen of Verona: Act I Discussion

We’re doing our first comedy! Welcome to our discussion of Act I of Shakespeare’s early and troubling comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Among many things, we discuss starting plays mid-conversation, the importance of establishing both the friendship and the status imbalance between Valentine and Proteus, parallels to the toxicity of incel culture, generational relationships, the precision of physical comedy in Julia’s letter speech, and the trope of the servant being five steps ahead of their employer.

Our ensemble for Two Gentlemen of Verona includes Samantha Blinn, Miles Blitch, Sam Gilroy as Valentine, Larry Gleason, Ellyn Heald, Jane Henzerling, Isabel Karp, Mitchel Kawash, Colin Kohrs, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

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For reference: here is the photo (from left to right), Peter Egan as Valentine and Ian Richardson as Proteus from the RSC’s 1970 production.

Henry V: Act V Discussion

And thus we conclude Henry V with our discussion of Act V!

Among many topics, we discussed how the act’s Chorus speech departs from hype man to interim narrator, the danger in Shakespeare’s contemporary references, the purpose of the final scene with Fluellen, Gower, and Pistol, Burgundy and smarmy metaphors, family becoming transactional in royal families, the existence of hope for a somewhat equal and productive partnership between Katherine and Henry, the deliberate destabilizing of the entire play with the final epilogue.

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Henry V: Act IV Discussion Part II

We work our way through the the second half of Act IV of Henry V - this episode covers scenes 4-8.

Among many things, we talk about how the boy grounds us with his moments alone with the audience, the difficulty of conveying how quickly the battle turns against the French, the startling moments where the language of violence is mingled with the language of eroticism and intimacy, Fluellen, WIlliams, and Henry: the honesty test, and how after the boys are killed, somehow the men revert to a childlike state.

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Here is the link to the Orson Wells clip of getting into character as Falstaff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ6v7GHYDbM

Henry V: Act IV Discussion Part I

We work our way through the beginning of Act IV of Henry V - this episode covers the Chorus speech through scene 3 (all of the pre-battle scenes).

Among many things, we discussed the complicated metaphorical transformation of Henry into the sun across three plays, how he is affected by the responsibility he feels for the army, how the ghosts of his past come back to haunt him on the eve of battle, the entanglement of the role of the king with personal identity, the English army feeling desires for dignity in the midst of fear, the different class experiences of warfare and Henry’s yearning for a smaller world.

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Henry V: Act III Discussion - Part II

We work our way through the end of Act III of Henry V - this episode covers scenes 4-7.

We puzzle over the singular scene almost entirely in French, how it amplifies the conflict of communication, and as a continuation of the consequences of war, we question if Shakespeare brings the Frenchmen onstage so they can make fun of themselves, or perhaps praise their wine? We take a moment to mourn Bardolph, talk about Fluellen’s knowledge of the ‘ancient wars,’ imagine the Dauphin in the camp as the rich kid at home without his parents for the first time, and, rather alarmed at the implied relationships of the soldiers and horses…we are left with the question: how many fools does it take to replace Falstaff?

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Henry V: Act III Discussion - Part I

We work our way through the beginning of Act III of Henry V - this episode covers the Chorus and scenes 1-3.

Among many things, we discuss the cinematic imagery of the Chorus, the hammering momentum of Henry’s “Once more unto the breach” speech, how it is immediately undercut comedically, puzzling through the significance of regional accents being written into the dialogue, and our realization that for the first two acts of the play we were talking about war, now we are steeped in it and all the myriad perspectives on war and violence.

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Henry V: Act II Discussion

Moving on to our discussion of Act II of Henry V!

We talk about the expositional nature of the Chorus in Act II, our feeling that Falstaff is missing from the play and the changing cast of comedic figures in the tavern gang trying to make up for his absence, the huge challenge of the prose scenes, the unabashedly pro-English lens of the play, Shakespeare as the myth maker of Henry V as the warrior king, and queering discourse and the othering of the French.

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.

Henry V: Act I Discussion

We’re heading to the finish line of the this history tetralogy…and we’re excited to share Henry V over the next 3 weeks with you, our dear audience! Here is our discussion of Act I.

Among many things, we discuss how the chorus activates the audience at the top of the play, the public and private personas of the clergy, we contrast how Henry V is talked about versus the experience of interacting with him, we note the lack of factionalism within the English court, and how the presentation of the “tun of treasure” (tennis balls) constitutes Henry V’s first public test as King.

Our ensemble for Henry V includes Nazlah Black, Esther Boles, Zoe Burke, Andrew Codispoti, Xdzunúm Danae, Zoë Goslin, Isabel Karp, Colin Kohrs, Alexander Lane, Julia Larsen, Amy Meilander, Jesse Van Buren, facilitated and directed by Ariana Karp.