William Shakespeare's Star Wars

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by The Wormhole, Jul 4, 2013.

  1. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Just saw something online about this new book which is out now. William Shakespeare's Star Wars which basically retells Episode IV A New Hope as though it were a Shakespeare play, with everyone, even R2-D2 delivering Shakespeare monologues.

    I must say, it certainly sounds like an interesting idea. Anyone have this yet and like to share their opinions?
     
  2. Allyn Gibson

    Allyn Gibson Vice Admiral Admiral

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    While I won't have a copy to call my own until next week, a preview copy has been floating around the office for about a month and I've read some, but not all, of it.

    I think it's okay. The play is a mash of authentic Shakespearean lines (with a Star Wars gloss of names and places) and cod early-modern English -- or, rather, what the general public thinks early-modern English was like. I think William Henry Ireland's two forged Shakespeare plays (Vortigern and Rowena and Henry II) felt more authentically Shakespeare than what I read of Verily, A New Hope.

    The presentation of the book, on the other hand, is fantastic. The woodcut artwork to dramatize familiar scenes is very effective.

    It's a neat novelty, and if this were performed at a Shakespeare Festival I'd be interested in seeing it.

    And Star Trek fans will forever wonder what the text was like in its original Klingon. :)
     
  3. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

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    Exit, pursued by a wookiee.
     
  4. Gaith

    Gaith Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Doth it?
     
  5. Candlelight

    Candlelight Admiral Admiral

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    "Come here Obi Wan, I am for you!"
     
  6. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

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    Darth Iago on the Bantha with two backs
     
  7. Turtletrekker

    Turtletrekker Admiral Admiral

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  8. Greylock Crescent

    Greylock Crescent Adventurer Admiral

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  9. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I'll wait for the stage production.
     
  10. Skywalker

    Skywalker Admiral Admiral

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    I wonder if he'll do the prequels.
     
  11. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I don't know. The best part of that preview was the cover drawing of Shakespearean Yoda.

    I'll be very surprised if he does.
     
  12. publiusr

    publiusr Admiral Admiral

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    So who is Falstaff--Dengar maybe?
     
  13. HIjol

    HIjol Vice Admiral Admiral

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    "...Mayhap, Gentle Uncle, for I was, in soothe, deserving of thy prescription for an expedient soujourn to Ye-Olde-Tosche-Station-by-the-Thames, as I fancied a goodly number of Powere Converterse...do not balk or knap, and away without tarry I shall fly...

    ...sorry I could NOT not...so sorry...
     
  14. Zulu Romeo

    Zulu Romeo World Famous Starship Captain Admiral

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    LUKE: Villain, what hast Obi-Wan done?
    VADER: That which was not told to you.
    LUKE: He said thou hast undone my father.
    VADER: No... *I* have done thy mother.
     
  15. HIjol

    HIjol Vice Admiral Admiral

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    LUKE: Nay, Knave!...verily, you lie!...
    VADER: Gaze Inwards, Bumpkin!...you will see the truth of it!
    LUKE: Hold, I would cut off my arm if I but believed your
    scurrilous lies--oh, umm...yes...indeed...seems
    that eventuality has come to pass...
    VADER: Ah, like the mother...a vigorous volley of verbosity...
    (With apologies to "V")

    Zion, I thought your answer was funny as hell!!!!! :guffaw:
     
  16. scotpens

    scotpens Professional Geek Premium Member

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    Yeth, it doth. :)