William Shakespeare

Each title in the 'Propeller Shakespeare' series includes the Propeller edit of the text, accompanied by an introduction to the text and Propeller's process, with articles on notable features specific to each production, e.g. use of music, design, and costume. Thrilling and deeply moving, "Henry V" is one of the greatest tales in English folklore about a British warrior.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play by William Shakespeare. Believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596, it portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play, categorized as a Comedy, is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world. William Shakespeare (circa 1564 ? 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Desire and duty collide in Shakespeare’s captivating tragedy of politics, passion and power. Two charismatic leaders, Mark Antony of Rome and Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, are caught in an all encompassing love that threatens the Empire. Rome will do all it can to pull them apart. Or it will destroy them both. This classic Shakespeare tale is edited by Dame Janet Suzman, making this an authoritative edition. As she says in her new book Not Hamlet: Meditations on the Frail Position of Women in Drama which studies the role of and for women in Shakespeare’s canon, Suzman knows this play better than anyone else in the world, having played Cleopatra twice and having now directed the play twice.

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a play by William Shakespeare. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatizes the revenge Prince Hamlet exacts on his uncle Claudius for murdering King Hamlet, Claudius's brother and Prince Hamlet's father, and then succeeding to the throne and taking as his wife Gertrude, the old king's widow and Prince Hamlet's mother. The play vividly portrays both true and feigned madness - from overwhelming grief to seething rage and explores themes of treachery, revenge, and moral corruption. William Shakespeare (circa 1564 - 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Betrayals, battles, and the bloody road to the crown-Henry VI, Part III is one of Shakespeare's most action-packed history plays. But if you don't understand the language, it's easy to get lost. Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part III continues the brutal saga of the Wars of the Roses, with shifting alliances, political intrigue, and the rise of some of his most famous characters-including a young, ruthless Richard of Gloucester. But the play's dense language can be a barrier for modern readers. That's where this edition helps. Each page includes the original text with a modern English translation, making it easier to follow the story, grasp the meaning, and appreciate the drama-without sacrificing Shakespeare's brilliance. Whether you're reading for class or for pleasure, this edition lets you experience the power of Shakespeare's history plays-clearly and confidently.

A reader's edition, modernized language ("you" for "thee," etc.) and glossary for unfamiliar words. Plus chart of characters continuing from one play to another. Falstaff appears, in one way or another, in four of Shakespeare's plays. His character serves as a counterpoint to the transformation of the scamp Prince Hal, who ultimately, on ascending the throne, must repudiate his old drinking and thieving buddy, Falstaff. As seen in the chart of characters in the back matter, many characters appear in more than one play, including the reprobates surrounding Falstaff, a fat old knight whose moral sense has eroded to the mere semblance of propriety. The character of Falstaff has fascinated audiences for a few centuries now, for when he is on the stage, he's stage center. Even in his dying and death, his companions bring him back to memory. Queen Elizabeth is reported to have been so enchanted with Falstaff after Shakespeare had written him into two plays, that she insisted he write another specifically for Falstaff, and that became The Merry Wives of Windsor, unrelated to history, just for fun, mostly at the expense of Falstaff. Henry V shows the reformed Prince Hal as a conquering hero; meanwhile Falstaff can be heard from a back room, as he is dying. If you've never seen the extravagant character of Falstaff onstage, try these free samples at http: //www.bandannabooks.com/free/falstaffsample.zip. Other works of Shakespeare, including Sir Toby Belch, a predecessor of the character of Falstaff, can be found at http: //www.bandannabooks.com/drama.php. A dozen of these books are Playbooks for directors and producers actually involved in or planning to investigate live productions.

George Lyman Kittredge's insightful editions of Shakespeare have endured in part because of his eclecticism, his diversity of interests, and his wide-ranging accomplishments, all of which are reflected in the valuable notes in each volume. These new editions have specific emphasis on the performance histories of the plays (on stage and screen). Features of each edition include: The original introduction to the Kittredge EditionEditor's Introduction to the Focus Edition. An overview on major themes of the plays, and sections on the play's performance history on stage and screen. Explanatory Notes. The explanatory notes either expand on Kittredge's superb glosses, or, in the case of plays for which he did not write notes, give the needed explanations for Shakespeare's sometimes demanding language. Performance notes. These appear separately and immediately below the textual footnotes and include discussions of noteworthy stagings of the plays, issues of interpretation, and film and stage choices. How to read the play as Performance Section. A discussion of the written play vs. the play as performed and the various ways in which Shakespeare's words allow the reader to envision the work "off the page." Comprehensive Timeline. Covering major historical events (with brief annotations) as well as relevant details from Shakespeare's life. Some of the Chronologies include time chronologies within the plays. Topics for Discussion and Further Study Section. Critical Issues: Dealing with the text in a larger context and considerations of character, genre, language, and interpretative problems. Performance Issues: Problems and intricacies of staging the play connected to chief issues discussed in the Focus Editions' Introduction. Select Bibliography & FilmographyEach New Kittredge edition also includes film stills from major productions, for comparison and scene study.

Julius Caesar: The 30-Minute Shakespeare presents eight spellbinding scenes from this timeless masterpiece. The action begins as the soothsayer warns Caesar of the Ides of March and continues as Brutus conspires against Caesar. Other key scenes include Caesar's riveting assassination and Antony's stirring funeral oration. This adaptation closes with Cinna the Poet's death at the hands of the mob, the quarrel between Brutus and Cassius, and Brutus' suicide. The edition includes a preface by Nick Newlin containing helpful advice on presenting Shakespeare in a high school setting with novice actors, as well as an appendix with play-specific suggestions and recommendations for further resources.

The Tempest: The 30-Minute Shakespeare offers eight scenes from this rich comedy. Beginning with the magical storm and shipwreck, this adaptation includes the uproarious discovery of the monster Caliban and his plot to kill Prospero. Included are the heartfelt marriage vows between Ferdinand and Miranda, the disguised antics of fairy Ariel, and Prospero's poetic abjuration of his rough magic. The edition includes a preface by Nick Newlin containing helpful advice on how to put on a Shakespeare performance in a high school class with novice actors as well as an appendix with suggestions for the specific play and recommendations for further resources.

One of Shakespeare's least-performed plays-and one of the most complex. But that doesn't mean Timon of Athens isn't worth reading. A sharp, dark tale of generosity, betrayal, and bitter disillusionment, Timon of Athens explores how quickly friends vanish when wealth runs out. While the themes are timeless, the language and structure of the play often leave modern readers confused. That's where this edition comes in. Each page includes the original text with a line-by-line modern English translation, so you can follow the story without missing the meaning. No summaries, no shortcuts-just the full play, made more readable. Whether you're a student, a teacher, or a Shakespeare fan exploring one of his lesser-known works, this edition of Timon of Athens makes the experience smoother and more rewarding.

This is the full and unabridged play as a graphic novel! 'But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun'! This title presents the tragic tale of doomed love, set in Verona, Italy, where the Montagues and the Capulets constantly feud and bring unrest to the city. So how could love possibly survive between this pair of star-crossed lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet? Only Shakespeare could take such a romantic story and turn it into a soul-searching tragedy.