As the controversy surrounding a current film on this same subject began (I'd rather not say anything specific in case of internet creeps looking for a fight), I wasn't too miffed. The authorship question exists and continues to be discussed. Interred with Their Bones makes a stab (a far-fetched, over-complicated stab), and no one will ever be satisfied because no one will ever know until definitive proof is found. Good luck with that. Then the Occupy Wall Street protests grew more heated, and the movie began promoting itself as educational. This is when my ire began to flame. How dare these damn anti-Stra'fordians foist their elitist mumbo-jumbo on my poet, and how dare they pretend that this film would be anything but a costume drama! I had been looking forward to an intelligent portrayal of the question of authorship, not a biased over-wrought telanovella!
I did not wish to review the film, again because there are fighting Oxen out there just looking to pick apart my poet's life and history, and to call me names like religious zealot. (Go see our post on Folger Education about it, and tell me those comments are not from Oxen). But it made me miss this play. The lighthearted spirit in which the potential for a relationship or collaboration or even cover-story between the Earl and the Poet is handled is just lovely. The in-jokes for theatre-types (come on, did Elizabethan actors warm up or do motivational speeches for opening performances like, "just have fun!" ?) are adorable. The wordplay is magnificent, and reminiscent of true Shakespearean wit. I enjoyed reading this play after the awful propaganda of the last month, and if you're looking for an enjoyable approach with just as much "historical accuracy" as the film, pick it up!
The Beard of Avon
- Publisher: Samuel French, Inc. (2004)
- ISBN-10: 0573602581
- ISBN-13: 978-0573602580
Dear Cgriff:
ReplyDeleteI'm a troll. I have enormous feet, and they smell terrible. My I.Q. barely rises above room temperature. I have a huge club, and I like to smash things with it.
And I'm offended that you would compare me to those people commenting on the Folger Education blog. It's trollist, that's what it is, and I demand an apology on behalf of all trolls everywhere.
--Glurnbquryyro
Dear Glurnbqurryo,
ReplyDeleteMy apologies for my offensive remarks. The Internet told me that a user who stalks for content to attack was called a troll, but I can see now that I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me. You are well-spoken and aren't hawking your wares on my blog, unlike the Oxen commenting at Folger Education. (will oxen be offended? I do think they can be stubborn...)
May your feet always be hairy, and your club triumphant in battle,
CGriff