1. Henry VIII
An odd choice for my favourite Shakespeare play, it's one I came to only two years ago. It combines the policital drama with the personal turmoil of Henry's love life. Shakespeare creates an intriguing plot, both light-hearted in its humour and deeply entrenched in its opinion. While set on its religious position from the opening lines, Henry VIII still gives all its characters their dues. Henry VIII intrigues me because of the dynamics between characters, and the love story is a sub-plot.
2. The Tempest
The Tempest was the first Shakespeare play that I ever studied. Then I found the magic the most intriguing element, but over time my focus has drifted to the character relationship, particularly the familiar ones. An open-ended play gives a lot of leeways for the audience to fill in the characters' histories. Magical and mysterious it shows Shakespeare's willingness to push the limits of theatre and even today allows directors to explore the limits of their imagination.
The Tempest was the first Shakespeare play that I ever studied. Then I found the magic the most intriguing element, but over time my focus has drifted to the character relationship, particularly the familiar ones. An open-ended play gives a lot of leeways for the audience to fill in the characters' histories. Magical and mysterious it shows Shakespeare's willingness to push the limits of theatre and even today allows directors to explore the limits of their imagination.
3. Comedy of Errors
A Comedy of Errors is a convoluted comedy in which two sets of identical twins cause confusion in Ephesus. Mistaken identities, puns and, slapstick humour ensure. I like it because it is oddly simple. Featuring the classic staples of a Shakespearian comedy, it develops the characters relationships in a way that only adds to the comedy. For someone like me who gets easily bored with romantic subplots, A Comedy of Errors never makes its romances a focus. Rather it keeps its attention on the comedy.
A Comedy of Errors is a convoluted comedy in which two sets of identical twins cause confusion in Ephesus. Mistaken identities, puns and, slapstick humour ensure. I like it because it is oddly simple. Featuring the classic staples of a Shakespearian comedy, it develops the characters relationships in a way that only adds to the comedy. For someone like me who gets easily bored with romantic subplots, A Comedy of Errors never makes its romances a focus. Rather it keeps its attention on the comedy.
4. Macbeth
At almost every stage of my education, I have studied Macbeth. Which may account for it now being a favourite of mine. The relationships and characters of Macbeth fascinate me, with complex narrative arcs and believable descents into madness driving this fascination. Banquo may be the most interesting because he crosses the boundaries between the supernatural and human. A short, sharp play, Macbeth is engaging and entertaining.
At almost every stage of my education, I have studied Macbeth. Which may account for it now being a favourite of mine. The relationships and characters of Macbeth fascinate me, with complex narrative arcs and believable descents into madness driving this fascination. Banquo may be the most interesting because he crosses the boundaries between the supernatural and human. A short, sharp play, Macbeth is engaging and entertaining.
5. A Midsummer Night's Dream
Perhaps the strangest of Shakespeare's comedies, A Midsummer Nights Dream was the first Shakespeare play I ever saw. While I do not remember much from the actual play itself, the magical feeling sticks in my mind. A Midsummer Nights Dream always makes me laugh and allows for such freedom that I have never seen two productions in anyways alike. The character of Puck has to be my favourite of the fairies, pushing the subplots into realms of silliness that somehow lead to a happy ending.
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