No matter how much Shakespeare I've performed, how many of his plays I have seen or read, the amount of reverence I endow shakespeare with always astounds me. Its almost to the degree of feeling unworthy to speak his language - foolish, right? I remind myself that it is only language - my language - words, when strung together a phrase - nothing more. Yet, I have this nag in the back of my head screaming, "but it's poetry, beautiful poetry, don't mess it up!!!"
In rehearsal however, when I watch my fellow actors shape, justify, fumble over, examine, love, hate, cry through Shakespeare's words I know I am sooooo not alone. Though my cast mates may not have the nag chanting in the back of their heads, we're all just trying to figure out. Truthfully, it's like any other play I've ever done, I just have to make sure those strung together phrase make sense. Thank you Shakespeare Lexicon.
