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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays

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Ms Greenwood certainly knows Shakespeare and her passion shows. The book is well written and so in depth. This book is must reading for anyone planning to see a Shakespearean production. It gives the reader a better appreciation of what should seen on stage. It will also influence the viewer when watching a "bad interpretation" of a character as well. This book helps answer the question, "why should I care about about a Shakespearean play?"

...that is the question when confronted--yes, confronted--with Shakespeare for most Americans.

Cynthia Greenwood upends Shakespeare as a chore for school days, turning it into the thrilling theater it truly was...and is.

To Read or Not to Read Shakespeare---Greenwood advises not reading. It's a play. Go see it. Reading Shakespeare is liking reading the lyrics of the collected work of the Beatles. Hearing it is the thing.

What should be read is Greenwood's wonderful book. With sprightly writing that is downright fun to read, she puts Shakespearean theater in accurate historic context. Namely, a bunch of street people standing around watching a bawdy play for the laughs and the passion. Pretty much Desperate Housewives without the flat screen TV, popcorn, and couch.

If you are one of those odd people so determined never to see a Shakespearean play, let alone read one, that you read reviews such as this to shore up your defenses....sorry. Read Greenwood, fall in love with Shakespeare, and proceedeth thou to the play. It is, after all, the thing.

A handy reference for all theatre students. Something you'd want on your desk at home when you are pulling for inspiration for an audition tomorrow, or preparing for a final and need "a quick take" on a specific text or general Elizabethan background. The "Idiot's Guide Series" comes through again with a helping hand!

The works of Shakespeare are world renown - but can be a little intimidating for someone just starting out. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays" is a guide for those who want to better understand this series of famous works without earning a Master's degree in English Literature. Covering both his major plays such as Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet to his lesser known ones, the guide also entertains with facts and stories about each of the plays and the man behind the pen himself, Shakespeare. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Shakespeare's Plays" is a must for any stage actor who doesn't fully understand the bard's work.

This is an erudite and entertaining book that demystifies Shakespeare. Like a good book or film review, it makes me want to see the actual play! The various methods of analysis (quotes, interviews, pictures, different points of views) holds interest very well. It's user friendly and I'm impressed by the detail.
The author also vividly describes the world from which the Elizabethan audience views the plays, thus, contributing to the plays' enjoyment and understanding. A great read.