Troy and Croy: Act 2, Scene 4

Here, we see a depiction of the climactic scene between Cory and Troy. Read along with the scene as you watch.

1. What choices by the actors (in terms of their line readings or movements) were most interesting to you? Why? Give at least 3 examples.

2. What choices by the actors rang a little false for you? Give 2 examples - why did they not match what youthought the characters to be?

Act 2, Scene 1

This is a pretty interesting scene featuring Latino actors, judging from their accents. Make sure you follow along with the scene in your book while you watch.

1. What lines did the actors read that you felt were especially effective? Why?

2. What moments did you think seemed a little false? Why?

3. What surprised you or intrigued you about this performance of the scene?

Death Monologue: Act I, Scene 1

Read along with Troy's monologue about death, which occurs a few pages into the first scene. As you read and follow along, note the ways the actors are reading the lines and what actions the actors are putting into the scene. Then, answer the questions that follow.



1. What actions did the actors add to the scene? Why do you think they added them? What parts of the character or the scene were they emphasizing?

2. Where did the actor playing Troy pause, or speak louder, or change tone? What parts of the character or the scene did he seem to be emphasizing?

Fences: Act II, Scene 1

Make sure you read along with the scene as you are watching/listening to the scene. This is Act 2, Scene 1. Then, answer the questions in the comments section (make sure you proofread carefully your response - no extra credit will be given if the grammar affects what you are trying to say).



These are students from Towson's Theater Department, acting out Scene 2.1.

1. What moments in the scene surprised you? Which were different from what you expected?

2. Which moments in the scene were how you imagined them while reading?

3. What choices did the actors make in their reading of the scene? How did this create meaning? What elements of their characters did they seem to be trying to emphasize?

Rose monologue from 2.1

Rose's big monologue in 2.1 is a monologue that actresses sometime learn for the purpose of auditioning for directors. Watch the following two audition recordings and answer the questions that follow.

Audition A:




Audition B:



1. What choices does the actresses in each scene make the respective readings of the monologues? What points about the character is each actress trying to make with her choices?

2. Why do you think this monologue is such a popular monologue for actresses to use as an audition tape?

The end of 'Much Ado About Nothing'

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I'm always pretty intrigued by how the play decides to leave Don Pedro. Such an interesting character - has some moments where it seems he's in love with Beatrice, but then is happy(?) to step back and let everyone else fall in love and he to remain alone. How did Denzel and the director decide to end his character? What do you make of the Beatrice/Benedick marriage? Don John's exit?

Comparing I.i in Much Ado

This is from the 1993 Film Version of Much Ado About Nothing, which we'll be watching parts of in class. You can fast-forward the video to around the 3-minute mark to get to the start of I.i. Why do you think they started off the film with Beatrice reading poetry? What important choices were made to convey meaning in this scene? In the first clip, we see the messenger speaking to Leonato, up until the arrival of the army.



Here in the second clip, we see the arrival of the army (Denzel Washington plays Don Pedro) through the end of Act I.




Next is I.i from a 1984 TV movie. (It's not very highly-acclaimed: read the comments on the Youtube site, if you want, one of which says, "I'm sorry but this version is an abomination.") Notice, though, that Beatrice still holds her own. How is the tone different in this one? Which do you think captures what is on the page the best? What choices did the actors and directors make here with the lines?



Note: Notice the difference between the line readings of "I knew you would end with a jade's trick. I know you of old." How do the two actresses convey totally different meanings with that line reading?

Note: Don John's one line. How is it presented? How do the directors hint that he will become a villain?

Short animated version of 'Much Ado'

This is pretty funny- what do you think?

"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"

The final battle scenes, from a 1983 TV Movie. Worth watching - read along with the text and leave a comment about your thoughts.



To compare, watch the goofy McKellen version, which features the famous line reading of "my kingdom for a horse" occurs when his jeep is stuck on some rubble (at around the 2-minute mark). Notice also a very young Jimmy McNulty from The Wire as the man who shoots Richard (I assume he plays Richmond).

Looking for Richard Trailer

There is not much of Looking for Richard available on Youtube, but this is the original movie trailer for it.

Valentino Achak Deng today, and his foundation

If you are curious about Valentino Achak Deng, the protagonist of What is the What, check out this link:

McKellen would be a great Lit Professor

Check out this site: http://www.stageworkmckellen.com/.

It's Ian McKellen explaining various aspects of Richard III. Interesting and interactive site.

Ian McKellan and Lawrence Olivier both try their hand at wooing Lady Anne

Compare these two filmed versions of I.ii. The first is Ian McKellan as Richard, wooing Lady Anne (Kristin Scott Thomas) in a morgue. The second is Lawrence Olivier (we listened to a recording of him in class), whose performance as Richard III is a pretty famous one. How are these compared to the Winona Ryder/Al Pacino reading of the scene in Looking for Richard? What elements of the characters are emphasized in each?

McKellan's Richard III: Act II, Scene II

Note this scene announcing the death of King Edward and the subsequent plans to retrieve the Prince. Note Rivers' (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) concern about getting him right away, and sneaky Buckingham's suggestion that it be a "small train" to get him. We know why he suggested this, and Rivers is suspicious, but Buckingham is able to convince them that this is the right way to go. Note also Maggie Smith (you might recognize her from the Harry Potter films, as well as Sister Act) as the Duchess of York. Follow along with your script: What other choices did the directors, screenwriters, and actors make to achieve meaning in this scene?

Richard III: Act I, Scene III

We watched this scene in detail from the Al Pacino film, Looking for Richard, but didn't watch it from the McKellan version. Note some of the interesting choices; for example, Richard enters the scene with Lady Anne on his arm, like a trophy. And, sadly, no Queen Margaret. Follow along with your script and note changes or choices made and how they create meaning.

Three readings of Richard's opening soliloquy

Follow along with your script. How did the actors' readings change meaning? Which is most effective? Leave a comment and share your opinion.

Animated Shakespeare: Richard III

Amusing and accessible version of Richard III (it's in order - Part I, Part II, and Part III, and around 25 minutes total).