"By my penny of observation"-Review of "Love's Labour's Lost"

Well I realize this post is a tad late in being posted. I've been super busy this week with various projects and while I haven't shirked my duties with assignments, I just haven't posted anything yet! Forgive me dear blogites and Shakespeare friends.

I hope you enjoy reading the next few posts!

To start off this blog-fest I would like to discuss my views on the amazing play we finished this week. Didn't you guys just adore "Love's Labour's Lost"?! I did! It had me giggling constantly and I absolutely loved the word play and the sparring of 'wit' between the characters. Plus, the sheer amount of humor woven through the interactions was fabulous.

I still maintain my preference for Biron as my favorite character with Armado coming in a close second. Both of these men were humorous to read/watch. I really got a kick out of Biron's humor and wit and sharp minded remarks. It was amazing to read his comments and justifications for everything. One of my favorite parts was the following passage because I absolutely love the word play here. I love how each character adds to the rhyme of the other. It's wonderful! Enjoy.

BIRON

I'll prove her fair, or talk till doomsday here.

FERDINAND

No devil will fright thee then so much as she.

DUMAIN

I never knew man hold vile stuff so dear.

LONGAVILLE

Look, here's thy love: my foot and her face see.

BIRON

O, if the streets were paved with thine eyes,
Her feet were much too dainty for such tread!

DUMAIN

O, vile! then, as she goes, what upward lies
The street should see as she walk'd overhead

"Our court shall be a little Academe"-Loving Love's Labour's Lost!

Wow.

I'm loving this play! I love the wit, the vivacity, and the plucky little comments woven throughout the story!

I decided after I read the text, to watch the production done at the Globe that Dr. Burton showed a clip of. And can I just say that it is awesome?! Seriously I loved having a production to observe after reading. It really made the text come alive for me. And it reinforces the idea that plays are really an EXPERIENCE not just a text. Plays are meant to be produced!

And boy did the Globe do an excellent job of producing Shakespeare's play!

My favorite characters are probably Berowne or Biron (or however else it is known) because he's so amusing to listen to/read; Costard simply because he's hilarious; and Adriano De Armado because of his obsession with love.

I loved reading the lines of these three in particular because of the language each uses (Berowne with his rhyming and wit, Costard with his simplistic absurdity, and Adriano with his lovey-dovey rationalizations)

So, when I started watching the production done by the Globe I was happily aware of how fabulous the actors portrayed these specific characters. They were IMMENSELY entertaining!

I'm not completely done watching the play but three of my favorite scenes so far are:


Talkative Prisoner

This is the moment where Costard cannot STOP talking about how he WILL stop talking
Witty Barbs

This is the scene where Biron and Rosaline spar and throw some witty little barbs back and forth.

Armado In Love

Ah Armado is in love! What more can I say? :)
* As a side note to anyone who doesn't have access to these links (because they are provided through BYU) There may be a way to e-mail links to you! Let me know if you need some help! :)