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alexxkay"IT HARROWS ME WITH FEAR AND WONDER": HORROR AND HAUNTING IN EARLY MODERN REVENGE TRAGEDY, by Sarah Monette.
I've stopped describing myself as a "Shakespeare fan", and now use the term "Early Modern Theatre". Sure, Shakespeare is at his best was better than anyone else, but there's so much other great stuff out there. And even if you mostly focus on Will, reading his contemporaries gives valuable perspective on Will's works.
This thesis has a lot of Shakespearean commentary, but also touches on many other plays, describing the ways the traditions of horror evolve, and finishing up with a discussion of how these themes manifest in modern drama. I found it fascinating, and quite readable. There is some use of academic jargon, but not so much as to obfuscate what she's talking about.
The section on The Revenger's Tragedy shed some interesting light on some aspects of the play, but I don't think it has any direct application to our current production. Conversely, if I ever do get around to directing Hamlet, I expect the ideas herein will prove very useful indeed.
Highly Recommended to those with an interest in Early Modern Theatre.
ETA: And I nearly forgot. The bibliography includes reference to another article I want to read, on the basis of clever title alone: "ABATTOIR AND COSTELLO: CARNIVAL, THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY AND THE MENTAL LANDSCAPE OF REVENGE".
I've stopped describing myself as a "Shakespeare fan", and now use the term "Early Modern Theatre". Sure, Shakespeare is at his best was better than anyone else, but there's so much other great stuff out there. And even if you mostly focus on Will, reading his contemporaries gives valuable perspective on Will's works.
This thesis has a lot of Shakespearean commentary, but also touches on many other plays, describing the ways the traditions of horror evolve, and finishing up with a discussion of how these themes manifest in modern drama. I found it fascinating, and quite readable. There is some use of academic jargon, but not so much as to obfuscate what she's talking about.
The section on The Revenger's Tragedy shed some interesting light on some aspects of the play, but I don't think it has any direct application to our current production. Conversely, if I ever do get around to directing Hamlet, I expect the ideas herein will prove very useful indeed.
Highly Recommended to those with an interest in Early Modern Theatre.
ETA: And I nearly forgot. The bibliography includes reference to another article I want to read, on the basis of clever title alone: "ABATTOIR AND COSTELLO: CARNIVAL, THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY AND THE MENTAL LANDSCAPE OF REVENGE".