Fun at the Folger, part 1: What IS the Folger?

OK, I have SO MUCH material to share with you about my visit to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C., but we'll just start with an overview of WHAT, exactly, the Folger Shakespeare Library is. 

Visiting the Folger Shakespeare Library is TOTALLY FREE, as the Folgers gifted it to the public. There is a gift shop, though, stocked with all sorts of awesome Shakespeare stuff, so you're not liable to escape unscathed. There are different Shakespeare exhibits rotating through the Great Hall, so there's always something new to see.

There are several books about the Folgers' collecting adventures, but the only one I've read so far is The Millionaire and the Bard, by Andrea Mays. I recommend it. 

Here are just a few of the VERY MANY photos I took at the Folger:

My first-ever glimpse of the Folger Library, waiting patiently for me to cross the street.

One of the nine reliefs decorating the front of the library. This one JUST HAPPENS to depict the "Good Tickle Brain" scene from Henry IV, part 1.

Inside the Folger Reading Room, featuring a bust of Shakespeare modeled on the one in Holy Trinity Church, portraits of Emily and Henry Folger, and the niche where their ashes are interred.

Top-quality merchandise in the Folger gift shop... *ahem*

Standard-issue windowless room where they put all the catalogers.

The stage of the Folger Theatre, designed as a replica of an Elizabethan playhouse.

Tune in again on Thursday for a SUPER SECRET* trip into the famous vaults of the Folger!

(*may not actually be super secret)

Long Lost Shakespeare

Hey all! Sorry for not having a brand new comic today. I'm in Washington D.C., gallivanting around and getting ready for my TOTALLY FREE TALK AT THE FOLGER LIBRARY THIS FRIDAY AT 6:00PM. So I am taking this opportunity to recycle a comic I drew for the Notre Dame, which ironically reduces the Reduced Shakespeare Company's latest play into three panels:

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My life has basically been unfolding in parallel with the Reduced Shakespeare Company. They made their name (no, literally, they made their name) with their first stage show, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), which does what it says on the tin. As far as I can figure out, I saw them perform this show when I was an impressionable 7 or 8 years old.

Now, I'd like to say that their work deeply informed who I was as a person, but the truth of the matter is I can't really remember anything about it. However, years later, having developed my own less-than-reverent relationship with Shakespeare, I picked up a DVD of their Shakespeare show, instantly responded to their incredibly stupid brand of humor and general irreverent and immature attitude towards Shakespeare, and have watched it numerous times since.

So when it transpired that the Folger was inviting me to give this talk before a performance of the Reduced Shakespeare Company's latest play... well, let's just say I was excited.  I had seen a workshop production of William Shakespeare's Long Lost First Play (abridged)  last summer at the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, who very kindly commissioned the 3-panel play you see above, and enjoyed it thoroughly. The prospect of seeing its final form AT THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY, was just too cool for words.

So I saw it. And I loved it. Again. You should see it too.

And then this happened:

Oh, yes, and I AM SPEAKING AT THE FOLGER TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 6PM. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

Gulli-Brutus

Everyone's heard of Mark Antony's "friends, Romans, countrymen" speech from Julius Caesar, right? It's a fantastic speech. I recently watched the BBC Shakespeare 1979 film of Julius Caesar and Keith Michell's Antony knocks it out of the park. But what really amuses me is the run-up to the speech.

Strangely enough, Cassius does not spend the next two acts following Brutus around saying "I told you so, I told you so," over and over again, which is what I would have done.  

Good Tickle Brain at the Folger Library!

I am now only FOUR DAYS AWAY from speaking at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C.! In case you're just joining me, I am giving a FREE talk on FRIDAY, APRIL 29 at 6:00PM, where I will be discussing my comic and live-drawing a brand new comic on stage with audience input. It's going to be SO MUCH FUN and you should check out all the details on the Folger's website. 

Happy Deathday, Shakespeare!

It's finally April 23rd, 2016! Or, as millions of Shakespeare geeks around the world call it, the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death!

Thanks a bunch, Bill. It's all been so much fun, and there's no end in sight.

For more Shakespeare 400 fun, be sure to check out my Shakespeare Play Flowchart and my Board Game of Shakespeare's Life! Also, be sure to sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter to be notified of when posters of my flowchart will be made available.

And remember, if you're in D.C. you should come see me speak and do some live-drawing on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library on Friday, April 29th at 6:00pm!

The Game of Shakespeare's Life!

Continuing our epic journey towards Shakespeare's 400th death anniversary on Saturday, here is a handy-dandy board game that allows you to relive all the exciting ups and downs of this master playwright's eventful life!

For all my fellow board game geeks out there: I know this is a totally rudimentary roll-and-move luck-fest with no strategy. I'm sorry. I actually started out designing a slightly more interesting game, but it was clear that I couldn't both draw a comic and design a functional board game within the space of two days, so this is what you get.

Also, so many of you were gratifying excited about my Shakespeare Play Flowchart from Tuesday that I WILL be making a poster of it available. I have to re-design it a bit to make it more poster friendly, so it might be a little while. If you want to stay updated on the poster, as well as all other Good Tickle Brain news, sign up for my weekly newsletter. In addition to news, you get a weekly digest of my comics plus exclusive behind-the-scenes peeks and book/DVD reviews. 

Good Tickle Brain at the Folger Library!

In just 8 DAYS I will be speaking at the Folger Shakespeare Library! In case you've missed my previous announcements on this, here are the basic facts:

• WHO: Me!

• WHAT: Talking about my comic and live-drawing on stage

• WHERE: The Folger Theater, Washington D.C.

• WHEN: Friday, April 29, at 6:00pm

• WHY: Because it's going to be REALLY SUPER FUN

• HOW MUCH: Nothing! It's absolutely FREE! You can reserve a FREE ticket at the Folger website.

Which Shakespeare Play Should I See? An Illustrated Flowchart

This coming Saturday is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death! Not sure what Shakespeare play you should see or read to commemorate the occasion? No worries! I've put together a little flowchart to help you make up your mind. 

HAPPY SHAKESPEARE-ING, EVERYONE!

POSTER AVAILABLE!

By popular demand, and after many months of blood, sweat, and tears, a poster version of this is now available! 

Measuring 18"x24" and printed on lovely, thick, high-quality paper, this is the perfect wall decoration for the Shakespeare geek in your life, especially when that Shakespeare geek is YOU.

If you order more than one poster, you'll get $5 off each poster! How about that?!

GET YOURS TODAY! 

Good Tickle Brain at the Folger Library!

In just 10 DAYS I will be speaking at the Folger Shakespeare Library! In case you've missed my previous annoucements on this, here are the basic facts:

• WHO: Me!

• WHAT: Talking about my comic and live-drawing on stage

• WHERE: The Folger Theater, Washington D.C.

• WHEN: Friday, April 29, at 6:00pm

• WHY: Because it's going to be REALLY SUPER FUN

• HOW MUCH: Nothing! It's absolutely FREE! You can reserve a FREE ticket at the Folger website.

No Fooling

It is a truth universally acknowledged that there is nothing more daunting than playing one of Shakespeare's clowns. 

Shakespeare's insight into the human condition might have aged well over the past 400 years, but a lot of his jokes haven't... at least those told by designated fools. A general rule of thumb is that the more times you have to look up a footnote for a joke, the more likely it is you will want to punch the character telling it. I'm always immensely impressed when actors are able to make Shakespeare's fools vibrant and amusing in performance.

Also, King Lear's Fool is totally the Fool from Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters, and nothing will every change that for me.

Honorificabilitudinitatibus

Hey all. I'm postponing the rest of my "The Frozen Winter's Tale" series until after my visit to the Folger at the end of the month, as I've just got too much to do ahead of then to be able to give it the time, attention, and mental energy it needs. But it will be back! In the meantime, here's this:

Yes, I've memorized how to say "honorifcabilitudinitatibus".

Yes, I occasionally say it at random moments, just to show off.

Honorificabilitudinitatibus.

It's a lot of fun to say.