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PLAYING SHAKESPEARE

John Barton (Actor), David Suchet (Actor) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
5 out of 5 stars 58 customer reviews
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Special Features

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Product Details

  • Actors: John Barton, David Suchet, Lisa Harrow, Alan Howard, Ben Kingsley
  • Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 4
  • Rated:
    NR
    Not Rated
  • Studio: Athena
  • DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009
  • Run Time: 456 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B001O7R75O
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,872 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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  • Learn more about "PLAYING SHAKESPEARE" on IMDb

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars5-stars, or not 5-stars, that is the question. FIRST REVIEW OF THE ATHENA DVD RELEASE
By Harold Wolf TOP 50 REVIEWER on May 22, 2009
Format: DVD
The actual DVD set is being reviewed. I didn't see the book or TV in 1984.
This series of 9 episodes (Or should we call them "instructions" in Shakespeare acting?) seem like they were shot yesterday. They are timeless. What, if anything is staged? What is entirely impromptu? It's hard to say, nay, impossible. It's that well done. The wealth within this educational, academic experience is difficult to quickly review, but we'll give it a go.

"Playing SHAKESPEARE" is the DVD presentation of acting workshops, done like a play rehearsal underway, shot in 1982, led by John Barton, who is himself entertaining, plus an encyclopedia on Shakespearean acting. He directed over 50 plays by the (RSC) Royal Shakespeare Company. A Cambridge professor. His main interest in this series is teaching toward the marriage of the Elizabethan acting tradition and modern times or style. It is instruction dedicated to the actor--but it is of interest to so many more.

Through detailed Shakespeare direction, Barton has provided a series that will delight all lovers of the celebrated playwright. Additionally it will encourage the viewer who is newly attempting appreciation of Shakespeare and his works. Novice Shakespearean audiences will want for more, want for a complete play to view.

Much of the success of this series is the famous & talented actors being instructed. The top of the U.K. entertainers, both within the RSC and out. The BONUS FEATURES of this DVD set includes several of their bios and RSC credits. Some, not all as there are over 20, are:
Peggy Ashcorft, 1907-1991, having at some time performed near all Shakespeare's female roles.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Gift From the Gods!
By Cat on May 9, 2009
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
I read John Barton's 'Playing Shakespeare' when I was in college and was encouraged to watch the companion VHS tapes. Unfortunately, they were only available in our college library and were fought over by hundreds of actors. I'm thrilled that this magnificent collection is now available on DVD. It's such a treat to see young, highly trained actors (McKellen, Dench, Stewart) from the RSC participating in Barton's Shakespeare instructional course. Barton discusses the most basic techniques on how to find clues within Shakespeare's text in order to perform it well. It is truly amazing that by simply approaching Shakespeare in a technical way; finding antithesis, lists, irony, and contrast-helps the actor figure out what is happening in a scene or monologue. Reading Barton's book makes sense and is a good reference, but the power behind this course is hearing the text and the technical adjustments the actors make with their voice. Don't be put off by the price; this instruction is rare.
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5.0 out of 5 starsTo be or not to be the owner of this collection is NOT the question
By Alan W. Petrucelli on June 1, 2009
Format: DVD
More than seven hours of company co-founder John Barton's classes in playing Shakespeare may sound dull, but it's actually incredibly moving, exciting, and, well, a heck of a lot of fun. The works are divided neatly into nine lessons, covering tradition, imagery, text, character, poetry, and other aspects that directly concern an actor's job in presenting Shakespeare's text to a modern audience with clarity and understanding. It's long been suggested that people who have to read Shakespeare hate him. And rightly so. "Playing" is the operative word here, and to see the excitement and joy the actors discover playing Shakespeare is simply wonderful. Let's pause to mention the actors here for their classes---perhaps we might remember Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Patrick Stewart, Ben Kingsley, Peggy Ashcroft, Roger Rees and Richard Pasco?
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe ultimate teaching tool
By M. E. McGarry on July 15, 2009
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
No teacher of Shakespeare or verse should ignore this extraordinary series. It is simple yet so textured that you will want to play it again and again. It is well thought out in its approach
to considering the interpreters'problems regarding Shakespeare's plays and sonnets.The bonus here is that you see how the great actors of the English Stage for the last fifty years are able to work with the text in rehearsal, discuss freely and perform unde the direction of the brillant John Barton. My eye opening favorite was David Suchet(Hercule Poiroit)
and in the last segment Dame Peggy Ashcroft. The cast list is mind boggling and includes Dame Judy Dench,Sir Ian McKellan,Patrick Stewart and Ben Kingsley among other notables.
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5.0 out of 5 starsRevelation
By Silverfish on August 4, 2009
Format: DVD
Not having seen this series when it was first made, the chance to see it now is greatly appreciated. Uh-oh, I thought, maybe it would be dead boring. Or maybe it would be enough that these professionals are giving us a glimpse at how great acting is constructed. Of course it should be interesting. But I didn't expect to sit on the edge of my chair for the first two hours, completely engaged, trying to figure out what, among the many "bests" of this series would be the very best.

Above all, there's the deep professionalism of all, from the donnish director John Barton, the puppet-master and the questioning teacher to each member of the RSC taking part in the exercise. With eyes twinkling, Barton pulls out one magic trick after another.

And that's just Barton. Each actor -- all familiar and many old favorites -- is fascinating. The involvement of the whole person in acting becomes clear. The movements are precise, the language is clear and crisp. The intellect is fully engaged. In some the physicality is rougher-edged and the intellect less showy but the acting no less spellbinding. In others, movements and gestures are like great dancing without ever going over the edge. Each performance is a revelation about language, discipline and dedication to craft. The egos are there, of course, but for these actors the respect for and generosity to others is notable.

Shakespeare takes some buffeting, in part because he is always adapted to current styles and ideas of theater. He must be used to it by now. Some cornball part of me wanted him to emerge from the back of the set and make comments -- astonished, puzzled, ironic, pleased. Or maybe he does just that through all who know the work and watch carefully.

This is one of those series that you want to keep forever, watch over and over again -- the rare set of DVD's which doesn't just gather dust on the shelf.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsI cannot recommend this series highly enough

An absolutely must-have item for any actor or lover of the work of Shakespeare. I cannot recommend this series highly enough.

Published 1 month ago by Micah Cone
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

as expected & promised

Published 1 month ago by iPodJunkie
5.0 out of 5 starsbuy it

these are great.

Published 3 months ago by StudioSteve
5.0 out of 5 starsBest way to learn Shakespeare is to watch the best ...

Best way to learn Shakespeare is to watch the best perform it, not to listen to an academic blow gas...

Published 5 months ago by Bruce Cromer
5.0 out of 5 starsAn excellent set of dvds

An excellent set of dvds. I am not an actor, but I wanted to gain an actors perspective on how to play WS. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Lindsey Noble
5.0 out of 5 starsEnjoy the Sublime Just Below the Lintel -- the Highest One May Go

What unbelievable fun. Watch great Shakespearean actors in incubation (okay, not really, but most of the actors: Oscar winners Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love, Iris), Ben Kingsley... Read more

Published 7 months ago by R. G. Banker
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat series

No true fan of the legitimate stage should miss these brilliant video essays. John Barton gives us real insight into Shakespeare, but never becomes too erudite to scare away the... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Robert D. O'Brien
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

A++++++++++++ A PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS WITH!!!!!!!

Published 9 months ago by Anonymous1137
5.0 out of 5 starsThe best - every actor and director amateur or professional would ...

The best - every actor and director amateur or professional would benefit by watching these superb actors and brilliant director whether Shakesperian or not

Published 9 months ago by coastalkate
5.0 out of 5 starsI first saw this excellent series when I was in grad school in the ...

I first saw this excellent series when I was in grad school in the eighties. It is still an excellent resource for acting Shakespeare and it's great seeing all those terrific... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Paul R. Dennhardt

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