Speaking Shakespeare

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Source
Review: I had to use this text as part of a class at VCU called Speaking Shakepeare. It is wise to realize that this text, since it is voice and movement related necessitates that one must use the material outside just reading it. Reading Rodenburg can be repetitive at times. However, her approach and detailed examples accentuates the translating of the foreign language of Shakespeare into a palpable and manipulative text. This practical approach takes the hindering and fright out of the playwright's words. I have had great success, thanks to using this book as an aide in tackling Shakespeare. A worth while investment. Just make sure that you apply it step by step, not all at once.

Rating:
Summary: Telling It Like It Is
Review: I'm not sure why I purchased this book in the first place--something told me I wouldn't understand Shakespeare simply by reading it unless I really learned to speak it.

It's blown my world wide open. This is an astonishing book--which even if it apparently looks like a workbook for actors, is more importantly a guide for anyone who'd like to know what planet she's landed on. Because you can't know much about planet earth if you don't know much about Shakespeare--and the secrets Shakespeare is willing to share with you aren't available unless you can hear his lines, and you can't hear them if you can't speak them.

Understand, I've been reading Shakespeare for 40 years. this book has doubled the pleasure and depth of the experience for me.

Rating:
Summary: Not very helpful
Review: Nothing new here. Seems to be a re-write of the ideas in Cicely Berry's books on speaking Shakespeare. Was looking for some new insights. Did not find any.