Updating Shakespeare

First, read this: http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/jan10/shakespeare.cfm

Initially, going into an article about translating Shakespeare into modern English made me think that I was going to end up writing what I'm writing now--an article about an article about an idiot wanting to update Shakespeare.

I have to say, however, that I feel this gentleman makes some great points.

Shakespeare's language has been revered and untouched, whereas many other playwrights are fair game simply because they were written in another language.

We think nothing of letting an established playwright like David Mamet take on Chekhov, but if someone were to suggest letting Tom Stoppard take a crack at 'Twelfth Night,' we'd be appalled.

I think it's very interesting that he says other countries get to enjoy Shakespeare more than we do, because it's considered appropriate to adapt his work there as well as translate it.

Old English is not modern English. I don't think we should be inserting up-to-the-minute slang into Shakespeare, but I don't see how letting someone make it a bit clearer could be that damaging to it.

I agree that Shakespeare is poetry, but theater is not supposed to be poetry; it's supposed to convey a story.

As an actor, I often feel when I'm performing Shakespeare that I need to come up with tricks or gestures to hint at what I'm saying. Once, when I remarked that I had NEVER seen either a good production or movie of "Twelfth Night" that it was all the actor's fault. When I said the same thing about a production of "The Way of the World," I was asked if there play was cut or modernized in any way. I responded that it hadn't been, and the person I was talking to said--"Well, it's too old. It's dated."

So if a play is old and dated, it needs to be changed. If a play is old and dated and Shakespeare, the play must be preserved and the actors have to figure out a way to make it work.

Does that make any sense?

I do think certain plays are a lot more accessible, and can probably still make it without much help, but the comedies are now so dated that the only jokes that work are usually the jokes the director or the actors add into the play.

Well, what is the point of that?

I'm going to post this now, and I'm sure I'm going to get bombarded, but whether or not you agree with me, please read the article because I think it's very well-written.

Ironically, the author mentions "The Way of the World" as withstanding the test of time.

Hmm, so maybe it WAS the production I saw...