David Foley
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Shakespearing #17: The Merry Wives of Windsor
Shakespearing #17 by David Foley The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merry Wives of Windsor was one of three Shakespeare plays I’d neither read nor seen when I began this project. (The other two were King John and The Two Noble Kinsmen.) I can’t say I was missing much. Riverside’s introduction repeats the tradition that Continue reading
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Shakespearing #16: Henry IV, Part 1
Shakespearing #16 by David Foley Henry IV, Part 1 I wasn’t looking forward to re-reading Henry IV. It’s not that I don’t like it, but its central trope has become stale from a hundred Hollywood films: the wastrel son redeeming himself when the chips are down. Do we really need to run that tape again? Continue reading
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Shakespearing #13: Romeo and Juliet
Shakespearing #13 by David Foley Romeo and Juliet One of the pleasures of re-reading a familiar text is that things you’ve taken for granted suddenly leap out at you. Like that prologue. Why would Shakespeare begin his liveliest play with a plodding plot summary in sonnet form? My first playwright’s thought is producer interference. “But Continue reading
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Shakespearing #8: The Taming of the Shrew
Shakespearing #8 by David Foley The Taming of the Shrew In my memory, The Taming of the Shrew was a rambunctious farce with two larger-than-life roles and a Stepford Wives ending. On reacquaintance, it’s a joyous work of art. But about that ending: the reasons Kate gives for submitting to Petruchio are not comfortable, but they Continue reading
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Shakespearing #7: Titus Andronicus
Shakespearing #7 by David Foley Titus Andronicus Titus Andronicus is such a mess that people used to argue Shakespeare didn’t write it. Indeed, the latest scholarship says that George Peele wrote significant chunks of it. The problem is the messy parts are Shakespeare. This doesn’t have to disturb us unduly. Shakespeare is messy. He’s Exhibit A Continue reading
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Shakespearing #2: Henry VI, Part 1
Shakespearing #2 by David Foley Henry VI, Part 1 Let’s imagine that Shakespeare has been hanging around London theatre for a while, acting in productions but also using his “honey’d” way with words to tart up some old warhorses for this or that company, and finally someone persuades him to write, or he persuades them Continue reading
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The Drunken Odyssey is a forum to discuss all aspects of the writing process, in a variety of genres, in order to foster a greater community among writers.
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