The Rants of Issachar

I'm back...

Actually I never went away. I've been reading & posting on the big "when does life begin discussion". Thanks to everyone contributing. I've found out that one of my assumptions is not shared by everyone...


So what's been happening recently?

School's been back in session. I think this year is going to be a very good one. Some problematic students didn't come back this year, and the general attitude in the school seems much improved. (By most people). Maybe it was just me, but the end of last year seemed a bit strained.

I went to Bard on the Beach with WestCoastLoon last Saturday and saw "As you like it". Very good. The second half had the whole "many stupid things happen to wrap the story up" problem that Shakespeare seems to have sometimes, but the first half was great. That and Christopher Gaze's introductions are excellent. How anyone can not be a Shakespeare fan with him there, I'm not sure.

Yesterday, I got to take the Grade 11 students to see "Hamlet". Yes, I got paid to go see Shakespeare with my students.

Hamlet was even better than the last play. They did the costumes in a 20th century style which I think made it a lot more accessible, but of course they used the original dialogue. (Which they should). It was also set in the round, which I'd never been in before. (Very nice). Bob Frazer was excellent, and Michael Scholar Jr. who played Laertes and the murderer in the play within the play was incredibly expressive. Bard does their fight scenes well. (In both plays). They also used slow-motion part of the time in Hamlet's final scene which I hadn't seen before.

Here's some photos of the plays. (No I didn't take these). Photos are from the official Bard on the Beach website.

Update: September 20th 2005
I'm removing the photos from this post. The person I contacted at Bard about them was very nice, but apparently even using the low-resolution versions of the photos available on their website is outside the permissible equity parameters. She gave me permission to repost them until the end of the month, but I'm removing them now as I'll most like forget to do it on the 30th.
*****


What else has been going on?

Well we had a fantastic sunset the other day, and if anyone was wondering where my new avatar came from.








Other than that it's just been a normal September. Photography showing at Steeps Tea Lounge on Broadway on Thursday, house party for the new people moving in downstairs last night. This is my life. :)

Posted by:  Lisa

What a beautiful sunset! :)

Posted by:  Katinka

I'll say...what kind of camera do you have? (I tried to take some dusk shots tonight with my new digital but the colours are all washed out.)

Btw, I'm exceedingly jealous of you getting to paid to see Bard twice in one week...grrrr. :)

Posted by:  Shakespeare

Shakespeare is great. I wish I could have seen the plays, but I did see a free version of As You Like It about a week ago or so. I'm trying to make a Shakespeare blog at www.theworldofshakespeare.blogspot.com I would appreciate any advice you could give me on the bard, as I'm not an expert.

Posted by:  issachar

Katinka,
It's a Canon PowerShot A75.

Shakespeare, you're asking the wrong person if you're looking for a Shakespeare expert. I just enjoy watching the plays once a year. :)

Posted by:  westcoastloon

So how was Bard again, again?

Claire

Posted by:  Sarah

I can't believe you critiqued Shakespeare's writing style! People are always criticising Shakespeare productions, but few are so bold as to complain about the plot!
I went to a few Bard productions last year - Much ado about nothing was also presented in a 20th Century style in the round and it was great. Baz Luhrmann would be proud.

Posted by:  pasivirta

hey, how's life? where are you posting these days? gotta get back online. i will be back in december, we should meet at church sometime or something. anyways, just thought I would say hi.