Macbeth, part 9

October 15, 2015

We've spent the entire play up until now talking about murdering Duncan, so LET'S SEE DUNCAN GETTING MURDERED!

...ha ha, just kidding, let's skip to right after the murder.

This is possibly my favorite scene in Macbeth. We don't get to see the murder of Duncan, onstage, but Macbeth's totally unhinged reaction makes the offstage murder that much more harrowing. This is a hardened veteran of many battles who started the play literally splitting someone open, and he's totally freaked out by what he's just done.

The "sleep no more" speech is great too. Here it is:

Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more!
Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care,
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,
Chief nourisher in life's feast,--
Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house:
'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor
Shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.'

It's a really good idea to memorize it, and then recite over and over in your head on those long, dark nights when you're having trouble getting to sleep.

...sorry, did I say that was a good idea? That's a bad idea. Don't do that.

PS - Still have a few Crispin's Day lines left! Get in touch if you're interested. If you have indicated you're interested, but haven't heard from me yet, e-mail me at goodticklebrain AT gmail DOT com, please.

Macbeth, part 8

October 13, 2015

The Story So Far: Three witches (or "Weird Sisters", if you want to be politically correct about it) have told Macbeth that he is going to be king. Macbeth tells his wife this, and they decide to be all proactive about this and kill the current king, Duncan. Because why not?

The dagger speech is one of the most famous speeches from Macbeth. I've assembled a video compilation of some of the more prominent filmed versions of it.

Also, in case you missed it, yesterday I put out a call for people to submit videos of themselves reciting a line or two from the Crispin's Day speech from Henry V, as part of my 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt special. The response has been really great. I've assigned all the lines already, but since so many people want to be involved, I'm assigning them all a second time, because the more the merrier. So, if you'd like to be involved, e-mail me at goodticklebrain AT gmail DOT com and I'll give you a line!

Upcoming: A 600th Anniversary Crispin's Day Special!

October 11, 2015

October 25 will be the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, the centerpiece of Shakespeare's Henry V. I'm very excited. You might recall that last year I put together this supercut of the Crispin's Day speech, featuring all the filmed Henry Vs I could find.

I'd like to do something similar this year, but featuring YOU, my faithful readers. So, if you'd like to participate in the Good Tickle Brain 600th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Agincourt, get in touch with me! Here's how it will go:

I will assign you a couple lines from the Crispin's Day speech. Sorry, you can't choose which ones, because then everyone would be doing the "band of brothers" bit and there would be no one to say "Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester". (Frankly, I love those lines, but I realize they're not exactly the glamorous quotable bit.)
Film yourself reciting those lines. This doesn't need to be a fancy production. If you've got a smartphone, you've got a video camera in your pocket. Just make sure the sound works, so I don't get a clip of you saying "thrrs drrr urrs crrrld thrrr frsst urrff Crrrsprrrn".
Send the video to me (goodticklebrain AT gmail DOT com). Also include how you would like to be credited: real name, pseudonym, Twitter/Tumblr handle, anonymous, whatever).
I will then put together all the videos I receive into a super SUPER Crispin's Day supercut.

Please send me your videos by FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, so I have some time to put everything together!

Don't hold your manhood cheap whiles any speaks that recorded little bits of video with us upon St. Crispin's Daaaaaaay!

Macbeth, part 7

October 8, 2015

Let's see... Duncan has arrived at the Macbeths' castle... there's murder in the air.. what are we missing?

Oh yes! A soliloquy!

Lessons you should take away from this:

Don't argue with Lady Macbeth.
Seriously, don't argue with her. She's going on about bashing a baby's brains out. She has some serious issues.

It is implied that Lady Macbeth had a baby in the past, but there is no sign of a Macbeth-ling running around the castle. Many productions nowadays like to run with the idea that it died in childhood, leaving the Macbeths childless and bereft. The Fassbender Macbeth (which I haven't seen because it's not out here yet, grumble grumble) apparently opens with the hypothetical child's funeral.

Tune in next week when the Macbeths finally get their hands dirty! ....no, seriously, they get their hands dirty.

Macbeth, part 6

October 6, 2015

Duncan and the royal posse have finally arrived at the Macbeth's castle!

All credit to Lady Macbeth, she actually doesn't give away anything in this scene. No murdery double entendres, no whispered asides in which she reveals her bloody intentions. Nope, she plays the gracious hostess very solidly.

Tune in on Thursday, as we board the train to Murderville!

Macbeth, part 5

October 1, 2015

Let's check in on Lady Macbeth and see how she is processing news of the witches' prophecy...

...so, not exactly in a calm and rational manner, then.

Tune in next week as we wrap up Act 1 of "A Stick Figure Macbeth"!

Macbeth, part 4

September 29, 2015

When we last left our anti-hero, Macbeth was on his way to see King Duncan, having just been told by some random witches that he will be king himself one day.

Play it cool, Mackers. Take it down a notch.

Tune in on Thursday, when we'll pop over to Inverness and meet Mrs. Macbeth!

Macbeth, part 3

September 24, 2015

Let's get back to the witches! I always find it interesting that the witches aren't actually in the play very much. Their presence dominates the play, but they actually only have three scenes (four, if you count the perpetually-cut Hecate interlude).

The witches have this whole "let me tell you about the horrible things I've done since we last met" section at the beginning of this scene, which is mostly notable for containing one of my favorite obscure quotes.