Speak the Speech

Via Carrie, an article from Slate on Shakespeare in the Park and how to speak Shakespeare, as recommended by Barry Edelstein.

I, of course, have a fond attachment for Shakespeare in the Park, having been lucky enough to work at the Public Theater for a year (and to be returning for the gala next week!), but I have uneasy feelings about it being pretty much THE place for Shakespeare in New York (and consequentially, the US), based mostly on the productions I've seen lacking an understanding of Shakespeare's text. This might be something that changes over time, now that Barry's there, but he was there for Hamlet and non of my mixed feelings were evened out.

Also, it must be acknowledged that, while Barry Edelstein is probably a genius and someone likely to be added to my pantheon of idols once I get around to reading his book (Edward Hall, the Zeus of my Shakespearean Olympus, is also mentioned in the article), I'm also pretty sure he once knowingly locked me out of a building. Evidence is circumstantial, but until his name is positively cleared, I always regard him with a single raised eyebrow.