Showing results by author "William Shakespeare" in All Categories

A solo recording of King Lear in an American dialect.

"Two households, both alike in dignity / In fair Verona, where we lay our scene...." A solo recording of Romeo and Juliet in an American dialect.

Includes selections from Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and the Sonnets.

Laughter, happiness, romance, and just a bit of deception and intrigue - these are what make up Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Though Shakespeare is probably most well-known for the dramatic tragedies that have defined the genre for centuries, his comedies are just as well beloved and performed in theaters across the globe. Shakespearean comedies are defined by their humorous writing, their satire, the often-tangled romances, disguises and deceptions, and a thoughtful “fool” who is often the bearer of the smartest lines in the plays.

Oberon, König der Feenwelt, hat sich mit seiner Frau Titania zerstritten, wegen ihrer "außerehelichen Eskapaden" und weil sie sich weigert, ihm einen ihrer Knaben als Pagen zu überlassen. Der gekränkte Oberon plant einen bitterbösen Streich: Der gewitzte Kobold Puck soll Titania während des Schlafs einen Zaubertrunk auf die Augen träufeln, der bewirkt, dass sich Titania in die erste Gestalt verliebt, die sie erblickt. Puck macht sich an die Arbeit und stößt im Wald auf eine Schar von Handwerkern, die ein Theaterstück für die Hochzeitsfeier des Athener Herrscherpaars Theseus und Hyppolyta proben: "Die höchst jammervolle Komödie und der höchst grausame Tod von Pyramus und Thisbe".

In The Merchant of Venice, the path to marriage is hazardous. To win Portia, Bassanio must pass a test prescribed by her father's will, choosing correctly among three caskets or chests. If he fails, he may never marry at all. Bassanio and Portia also face a magnificent villain, the moneylender Shylock. Portia is most remembered for her disguise as a lawyer, Balthazar, especially the speech in which she urges Shylock to show mercy that "[D]roppeth as the gentle rain from heaven". Please note: This audiobook is in Russian.

"The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" is perhaps the most influential and widely acclaimed play by William Shakespeare. The tragedy follows Prince Hamlet as he concocts a plan to avenge the death of his father, who was murdered by his uncle Claudius in order to take the throne. Suspenseful, supernatural, moody, and full of twists, Hamlet is an exploration of the human condition, of the troubled psyche of the prince and his relationship with his mother and lover, as well as of pity, horror, and vengeance.

King Lear has lived a long and difficult life as a king and decides that he wants to retire of his duties. To absolve himself of power, Lear decides to split his kingdom among his three daughters based on their affections toward him. While two of his daughters flatter their father and declare their fealty and respect, his third daughter refuses to flatter his ego and declares that she only loves him because he is her father. This disrespect causes Lear to leave her nothing.

Shakespeare's narrative poem, read by The Marlowe Society.

Two concurrent relationship entanglements result in chaos and hilarity, as the truths are slowly revealed to both sets of couples. Much Ado About Nothing demonstrates that the power of true love can withstand anything that deceptive and meddling friends can throw at it.

Leontes, suspecting his wife's infidelity, imprisons her and exiles her infant daughter to a faraway island. Years later, his wife, presumed dead, is returned to him as a statue.

A classic staged performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet by the Old Vic Company. Starring Claire Bloom and Alan Bandel.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a comedy written by William Shakespeare. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to Hippolyta, the former queen of the Amazons. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors (the mechanicals) who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.

Shakespeare for Kids adapts and abridges Shakespeare's classic plays, presenting them in shorter versions in plain English. This conversion from Shakespearian language to today’s English, makes it easier to grasp the narrative structure of the play and appreciate Shakespeare's incredible gift for storytelling. This can be helpful for a younger audience, for those who are newer to the Shakespeare canon, and for those who simply looking for a fresh approach to the great works of Shakespeare.

An adaptation of William Shakespeare's 1603-1604 play Measure for Measure adapted and in plain English to a 20-minute production by Charlie Creed. The original was first published in the First Folio in 1623. It was originally classified as a comedy, though is now considered more of a problem play. The play is set in Vienna and focuses on the themes of relationships, integrity, and legal complications. This is a full cast, abridged production of the play in plain English.

Much Ado About Nothing is generally considered one of Shakespeare's best comedies, because it combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honor, shame, and court politics. The play includes two quite different stories of romantic love. Hero and Claudio fall in love almost at first sight, but an outsider, Don John, strikes out at their happiness. Beatrice and Benedick are kept apart by pride and mutual antagonism until others decide to play Cupid.

In the beginning, Timon is a wealthy and generous Athenian gentleman. He hosts a large banquet, attended by nearly all the main characters. Timon gives away money wastefully, and everyone wants to please him to get more, except for Apemantus, a churlish philosopher whose cynicism Timon cannot yet appreciate. This edition of Timon of Athens is an adaptation of Shakespeare's eponymous drama, narrated in plain modern English, capturing the very essence and key elements of the original Shakespeare work.

Henry V defeats the French army at Agincourt to claim the throne of France and Catherine de Valois as his bride. This play contains Henry's famous "Feast of Saint Crispin" address, perhaps the greatest pep-rally speech ever given!

A violent storm shipwrecks the King of Naples and his noblemen on what appears to be an uninhabited island. They don't know that they have been brought here by powerful magic. Prospero, the mysterious ruler of the island, has a plan, but will he use his magic for revenge or for reconciliation? His daughter, Miranda, has never seen another man except her father. What will she think of the stranger who stumbles into her life? Will Propsero's monstrous servant, Caliban, succeed in overthrowing his master?

In his absence, Duke Vincentio charges Angelo to enforce the laws of Vienna. Disguised as a friar, the Duke stays to observe the proceedings. But all is not as it should be!