Now, if we only knew

who he really was and who really wrote his works...

Vatican newspaper says Shakespeare was secret Catholic

I'm willing to joyfully claim him as one of the flock (though I haven't any real right to do so, of course), but I'm not sure that there isn't just a little too much ambiguity about him, his identity, hiw works and everything else about him. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, I've just read too many contradictory theories...

---

All arts?

Are Artists Liars?

Well, I've always felt that actors are liars, which is why people should never take their opinions seriously. I mean, these people get paid to convincingly pretend that they're someone else. Why would one trust them?

But what about the other arts?

---

It's amazing what people will do

Of course, it was made for the theatre, but still...

On The Wings of a Beetle

Making a dress out of parts of bugs, whether killed for the purpose or part of the natural cycle, may make some people unsettled. Me, well, it doesn't matter. Anything becomes problematic. Even carrot juice is murder...

---

At least

I can't be accused of over-acting...

Your Vocation is the Padded Cell!

Usually...

---

For music lovers,

today is the birthday of

Marianne Evelyn Faithfull,

a very talented and sometimes under-appreciated singer and actor. I've always enjoyed her music, as well as her acting.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Faithfull, and God's blessings...

---

An historical tragedy,

on this date in 1883, that led to a very important invention...

Victoria Hall disaster

---

Changing times...

Bavarian Village Divided over Updates to World-Famous Passion Play

How do you change something when it gets this old and so imbued with its own sense of tradition and and unchanging nature? When the requirements become part of the ritual of the performance?

---

Really interesting article...

How Catholic Was Shakespeare?

A question that will likely never be answered with certainty, but it takes me back to my university Shakespeare class days - a class I enjoyed greatly and did very well in. He's a fascinating subject, as are his works...

---

*Sigh*

I wonder if the plays author is gay...

Anti-Catholic Hate Speech at Tarleton State University

"Jesus is depicted as the "King of the Queers" who says to the apostles, "F--- your mother, F--- your father, F--- God.""

I ask that only because, as SWMBO and I have discussed many times in the past, the gay community seems to seriously push the envelope in their depictions of themselves some times, and then try to see if they're still accepted or if there's any backlash.

I think of some of the parades I've seen news reports of and they seem to go out of their way to push people's buttons, to mock straight institutions and beliefs and push sexual boundaries, but then want to be accepted as normal. It's a very unusual thing...

Ah, well... the last acceptable prejudice is to be prejudiced against Catholics...

---

I never would have thought

that this could have made it to the theatre...

C.S. Lewis' devilish tale adapted for stage in U.S. tour

But then, if they can make the various Gospels into one person plays, it would make sense that they could do that with pretty much anything...

(Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful book. I just never thought it could be made into a stage production.)

---

Rip - Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson


Farrah Fawcett of Charlie's Angels fame dies at 62

Michael Jackson dies at 50

The expected emotional outpouring is going on for Michael Jackson, but I think Farrah Fawcett deserves it just as much if not more, 'Charlie's Angels' notwithstanding.

I hope you've both found peace...

---

Back and forth


Shakespeare Unfound(ed)?

"The real identity of the sitter for the new "Shakespeare" portrait"

The specialists will continue to argue back and forth. I think we'll never know with certainty what he looked like...

R.I.P. - Natasha Richardson

She was a gifted actress. Such a tragedy...


Natasha Richardson dies after fall on ski slope

A reminder how it can happen to any of us, at any time.

Rest in peace...

A wonderfully talented

writer, singer, actor, and just generally multi-talented fellow I know, Ed Willett, has a regular column on interesting things...


Featured Column

The topic may change before you get to his site, but he does have an archive. I think he's remarkably talented, he's a very nice person, and I really do enjoy his fiction...

Only students

would do this and think that it's right and proper.

Jerry Springer sparks holy row at St Andrews

They're still at the age where they don't have much life experience and everything is 'important' and 'crucial' and 'will prompt serious discussion'. They aren't sure about what, they just know it's 'important'. More important than the beliefs and feelings of those who they disdain given their own knowledge about, well, everything. There's no point getting worked up about it. Every generation does it. It'll pass...

More than one type of Globe

Ever since studying Shakespeare at university I've been interested in this one...

The Globe Theatre: Shakespeare’s ideal venue, then and now

Of course

Controversial musical hits Carnegie hall

It's not enough that this is a television program, now they have to do theatre about it?

When Gandhi was asked what he thought about Western civilization he said that he thought it would be a good idea. Such an insightful man...

Intentions to offend?

No vaginas please, we're Floridian

Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh...

Ahem. Sorry.