You can see Jay Richards' musical version of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women in Logan this October 16th through October 25th at the Ellen Eccles Theatre in Logan. Click here for more information.
Also in Logan, Monday October 13th through Saturday the 18th you can see the another side of Shakespeare's Hamlet at Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (by Tom Stoppard) at Utah State University Chase Fine Arts Center. Click here for more details.
Pinnacle Acting Company is performing William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet October 16th through October 25th at the Highland High Little Theater in Salt Lake City. Click here for more information.
In Provo you can watch a stage production of Henry Jame's Turn of the Screw at the Covey Center October 16th through November 1st. Click here for more information.
Lastly, also in the Halloween vein, you can see the 1925 silent movie The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney at the Organ Loft in Salt Lake City October 22nd, 23rd and 24th. (Click here for more information.) This version follows the original 1910 story by Gaston Leroux much closer than the popular Andrew Lloyd Weber musical. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already seen it - especially with live organ accompaniment much like it was originally performed is an experience (and at $5 a ticket, it is a bargain to boot).
Showing posts with label William Shakespeare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Shakespeare. Show all posts
October 12, 2008
September 21, 2008
Cabinet of Wonders: Evil, Incarnate
In Cabinet of Wonders: Evil, Incarnate, Heather McDougal present ideas and illustrations related to how storytellers use negative physical characteristics to represent evil. and what it says about us.
It is not often you can read references to Leonardo da Vinci, Heath Ledger as the Joker, the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, and Beowulf, as well as works by William Shakespeare, Frank Herbet, Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, and Charles Dickens among others - all in one discussion.
While you are there, check out some of her previous, facinating posts.
It is not often you can read references to Leonardo da Vinci, Heath Ledger as the Joker, the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, and Beowulf, as well as works by William Shakespeare, Frank Herbet, Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, and Charles Dickens among others - all in one discussion.
While you are there, check out some of her previous, facinating posts.
February 5, 2008
Parallel Stories
I have a brother in-law who collects versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol , the original version being A Christmas Carol: In Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas (1843) illustrated by John Leech. Several years ago my wife and I gave him Marley's Ghost (2000) by Mark Hazard Osmun (currently out of print) which tells more about Jacob Marley's life and his activities behind the scenes getting the various ghosts involved with Scrooge.
Around that time, I also read Orson Scott Card's Ender's Shadow (1999) which overlaps the award-winning story in Ender's Game (1985), also by Card, but from the character Bean's perspective instead of Ender's.
I have since then encountered several other classic or favorite stories with other books published telling the story from another character's point of view. Most of the time, the stories fill out the background on some of the minor characters, fill in gaps between events or give behind the scene activities, and then possibly carry the story beyond the end of the original - at least in regards to the originally minor characters.
In fact with Card, he has now created an entire Shadow series that continues the story of several of the characters introduced in Ender's Game, helping to bridge Ender's Game with Speaker for the Dead (1986) and other books in the Ender series.
I was aware that for Hamlet (ca 1600) by William Shakespeare, we have the parallel story of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966) by Tom Stoppard. While I researching this I discovered not one, but two books written with Ophelia as the principal character - Dating Hamlet: Ophelia's Story (2002) by Lisa Fiedler and Ophelia (2006) by Lisa Klein. (Is there something with Lisas and Ophelia?)
Fiedler apparently followed up her Ophelia book with a companion story to Romeo and Juliet (ca 1596) by William Shakespeare titled Romeo's Ex: Rosalind's Story (2006).
For Macbeth (ca 1605) by William Shakespeare, there is Enter Three Witches (2007) by Caroline Cooney.
I wouldn't be surprised if other authors haven't already tackled more of the Bard's work in this way, although there seems to be a recent surge in this type of novel and they seem to be targeted to young adults.
As the movie The Lion King (1994) is draws several plot elements from Shakespeare's Hamlet, perhaps it is not too surprising Disney did a direct-to-video prequel/mid-quel in the vein of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004), showing that Timon and Pumba's lives intersected and inadvertently affect Simba's story before they actually appeared in The Lion King. (Both of these Disney movies are in moratorium at the moment.)
Gregory Maguire wrote Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1996) which is not really a parallel story to the The Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum and originally illustrated by W. W. Denslow, but rather a story telling the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West in an Oz that is an amalgamation of lands, creatures and characters from the other Oz books Baum wrote, with key elements from the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939), but I think it draws on enough of the original story it can be included here.
The last example I have is from the recent vampire novel Twilight (2005) by Stephenie Meyer. This is told from Bella's point of view. Meyer has started book chronicling this story from Edward's perspective which is currently called Midnight Sun. On Meyer's website you can download and read the first chapter by clicking on the links on this page: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/otherprojects_midnightsun.html.
With the exception of the stories by Card and Meyer, the parallel versions were written by a different author. Most of these weren't done as a parody, but rather as a means of examining or enlarging on themes or plots covered or suggested by the original. Most of the time characters developed and grew beyond the scope their appearance in the first work allowed, increasing the depth of the original.
While Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a comedy, it stands on its own as it deals with some philosophical issues that the original really couldn't go into. (As does The Lion King 1 1/2, although from what I remember the additional themes it deals with are rather shallow.)
If any of you know of other parallel stories out there, please share them.
Around that time, I also read Orson Scott Card's Ender's Shadow (1999) which overlaps the award-winning story in Ender's Game (1985), also by Card, but from the character Bean's perspective instead of Ender's.
I have since then encountered several other classic or favorite stories with other books published telling the story from another character's point of view. Most of the time, the stories fill out the background on some of the minor characters, fill in gaps between events or give behind the scene activities, and then possibly carry the story beyond the end of the original - at least in regards to the originally minor characters.
In fact with Card, he has now created an entire Shadow series that continues the story of several of the characters introduced in Ender's Game, helping to bridge Ender's Game with Speaker for the Dead (1986) and other books in the Ender series.
I was aware that for Hamlet (ca 1600) by William Shakespeare, we have the parallel story of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966) by Tom Stoppard. While I researching this I discovered not one, but two books written with Ophelia as the principal character - Dating Hamlet: Ophelia's Story (2002) by Lisa Fiedler and Ophelia (2006) by Lisa Klein. (Is there something with Lisas and Ophelia?)
Fiedler apparently followed up her Ophelia book with a companion story to Romeo and Juliet (ca 1596) by William Shakespeare titled Romeo's Ex: Rosalind's Story (2006).
For Macbeth (ca 1605) by William Shakespeare, there is Enter Three Witches (2007) by Caroline Cooney.
I wouldn't be surprised if other authors haven't already tackled more of the Bard's work in this way, although there seems to be a recent surge in this type of novel and they seem to be targeted to young adults.
As the movie The Lion King (1994) is draws several plot elements from Shakespeare's Hamlet, perhaps it is not too surprising Disney did a direct-to-video prequel/mid-quel in the vein of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead with The Lion King 1 1/2 (2004), showing that Timon and Pumba's lives intersected and inadvertently affect Simba's story before they actually appeared in The Lion King. (Both of these Disney movies are in moratorium at the moment.)
Gregory Maguire wrote Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1996) which is not really a parallel story to the The Wizard of Oz (1900) by L. Frank Baum and originally illustrated by W. W. Denslow, but rather a story telling the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West in an Oz that is an amalgamation of lands, creatures and characters from the other Oz books Baum wrote, with key elements from the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939), but I think it draws on enough of the original story it can be included here.
The last example I have is from the recent vampire novel Twilight (2005) by Stephenie Meyer. This is told from Bella's point of view. Meyer has started book chronicling this story from Edward's perspective which is currently called Midnight Sun. On Meyer's website you can download and read the first chapter by clicking on the links on this page: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/otherprojects_midnightsun.html.
With the exception of the stories by Card and Meyer, the parallel versions were written by a different author. Most of these weren't done as a parody, but rather as a means of examining or enlarging on themes or plots covered or suggested by the original. Most of the time characters developed and grew beyond the scope their appearance in the first work allowed, increasing the depth of the original.
While Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is a comedy, it stands on its own as it deals with some philosophical issues that the original really couldn't go into. (As does The Lion King 1 1/2, although from what I remember the additional themes it deals with are rather shallow.)
If any of you know of other parallel stories out there, please share them.
January 31, 2008
Daedalus Books
One of my favorite sources for books, DVDs and CDs is Daedalus Books. Selling remainder books, their quantities may very limited on some titles, but their prices are unbeatable. Add to that a flat fee of $5.95 for shipping regardless of the quantity, and it can be hard to pass up their offers.
I just received their latest catalog, and here are some items that fit in the scope of this site. I have included a link to the page on their site if you want to buy it. Unless noted, the books are hardback. (Typically I put the original date the book was published or movie was released in parenthises after the title, but in this case the year represents the date this particular edition was published.)
Zathura (2002) written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg - it was made into a movie in 2005. Van Allsburg also wrote and illustrated Jumanji and many other children's book.
List Price $18.00 Daedalus $4.98
The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary (2006) by Peter Gillever, Jeremy Marsahll & Edmund Weiner
List Price $25.00 Daedalus $5.98
Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs and Coded Politics of William Shakespeare (2005) by Clare Aquith
List Price $26.95 Daedalus $6.98
Shakespeare Well-Versed – A Rhyming Guide to His Plays (2004) by James Muirden
List Price $12.00 Daedalus $3.98
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake - the author and original illustrator of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG and many other books.
List Price $15.95 Daedalus $4.98
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Based on the Original Book by C.S. Lewis (2004) retold for readers and listeners 4 to 8 by Hiawyn Oram, illustrated by Tudor Humphries
List Price $16.99 Daedalus $4.98
The Picture of Dorian Gray (2000) by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Tony Ross - annotated for readers 12 and up (paperback)
List Price $17.99 Daedalus $3.98
The Wind in the Willows (1969) by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Robert J. Lee (paperpack)
List Price $4.99 Daedalus $2.49
C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia (2006) DVD
List Price $14.98 Daedalus $6.98
Pinocchio, the Boy (of Incognito in Collodi) (2002) written and illustrated by Lane Smith - the illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, and The Time Warp Trio series, among others.
List Price $16.99 Daedalus $1.98
The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! (2003) written and illustrated by Lane Smith
List Price $16.99 Daedalus $3.98
While you are there, feel free to check out their other offerings. I bet you will find something else you will like.
I just received their latest catalog, and here are some items that fit in the scope of this site. I have included a link to the page on their site if you want to buy it. Unless noted, the books are hardback. (Typically I put the original date the book was published or movie was released in parenthises after the title, but in this case the year represents the date this particular edition was published.)
Zathura (2002) written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg - it was made into a movie in 2005. Van Allsburg also wrote and illustrated Jumanji and many other children's book.
List Price $18.00 Daedalus $4.98
The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary (2006) by Peter Gillever, Jeremy Marsahll & Edmund Weiner
List Price $25.00 Daedalus $5.98
Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs and Coded Politics of William Shakespeare (2005) by Clare Aquith
List Price $26.95 Daedalus $6.98
Shakespeare Well-Versed – A Rhyming Guide to His Plays (2004) by James Muirden
List Price $12.00 Daedalus $3.98
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, Illustrated by Quentin Blake - the author and original illustrator of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, The BFG and many other books.
List Price $15.95 Daedalus $4.98
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Based on the Original Book by C.S. Lewis (2004) retold for readers and listeners 4 to 8 by Hiawyn Oram, illustrated by Tudor Humphries
List Price $16.99 Daedalus $4.98
The Picture of Dorian Gray (2000) by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Tony Ross - annotated for readers 12 and up (paperback)
List Price $17.99 Daedalus $3.98
The Wind in the Willows (1969) by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Robert J. Lee (paperpack)
List Price $4.99 Daedalus $2.49
C.S. Lewis: Beyond Narnia (2006) DVD
List Price $14.98 Daedalus $6.98
Pinocchio, the Boy (of Incognito in Collodi) (2002) written and illustrated by Lane Smith - the illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, and The Time Warp Trio series, among others.
List Price $16.99 Daedalus $1.98
The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! (2003) written and illustrated by Lane Smith
List Price $16.99 Daedalus $3.98
While you are there, feel free to check out their other offerings. I bet you will find something else you will like.
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