"In a remarkable performance, Flynn laughs, jokes, and calls O'Hea to task when he's wrong—all sounding very much like the famous Dench...The final segment has Dench (in her own voice) and O'Hea engaged in friendly, very funny, squabbling. Informative, educational and altogether brilliant listening!"—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)
This program includes interstitial narration from Judi Dench and a bonus conversation between the authors.
Discover the work of the greatest writer in the English language as you've never encountered it before with internationally renowned actor Dame Judi Dench's SHAKESPEARE: The Man Who Pays The Rent—a witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved Shakespeare.
Taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig...
Cavorting naked through the Warwickshire countryside painted green...
Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head...
These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.
For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra. In a series of intimate conversations with actor & director Brendan O'Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare's plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.
Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour, striking level of honesty and a peppering of hilarious anecdotes, many of which have remained under lock and key until now.
Instructive and witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi's love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
April 23, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781250333117
- File size: 348073 KB
- Duration: 12:05:09
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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February 19, 2024
For this exuberant collection, O’Hea, an actor at Shakespeare’s Globe theater, brings together his interviews with Dench (Behind the Scenes) about the many Shakespearean roles and productions in her seven-decade career. Conducted over four years and originally intended for the Globe’s archives, the lively conversations bounce from backstage reminiscences (“I wouldn’t know how to get ready unless there were jokes and pants flying through the air”) to irreverent commentary on the plays (“Oh my God, I loathed it,” Dench says about The Merchant of Venice, objecting to its irredeemable characters and antisemitism). Dench’s accessible musings feel like learning about Shakespeare from a favorite teacher, as when she notes how the contrast between Romeo’s metaphor-rich language and Juliet’s “straight to the point” responses in the balcony scene reveal how “she has no guile about her. And there’s no time to be flowery—she’s too anxious about Romeo’s safety.” Of particular value are Dench’s lucid insights on her craft: “Acting is learning how to edit. It’s not just about what you put in, but probably more importantly what you choose to chuck out.” The breezy discussions make up in energy and passion for what they lack in rigor. It’s a refreshingly loose exploration of the Bard’s oeuvre. Illus. -
In Q&A format, actor Brendan O'Hea asks intriguing questions of world-famous actor/director Judi Dench. The result is absolutely delicious. O'Hea recorded four years of interviews with Dench, but due to her failing eyesight, the audiobook is co-narrated by Barbara Flynn. In a remarkable performance, Flynn laughs, jokes, and calls O'Hea to task when he's wrong--all sounding very much like the famous Dench. With sprinkled salty language, Dench opens up about her seven-decade career, her photographic memory, and her Shakespearean roles. Each chapter thoroughly explores a play and Dench's role in it. Her wit and impish nature will have listeners in stitches. The final segment has Dench (in her own voice) and O'Hea engaged in friendly, very funny, squabbling. Informative, educational and altogether brilliant listening! S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine -
June 1, 2024
Actor Dench (Behind the Scenes) and O'Hea, an actor and director at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, present a captivating discussion of Dench's unique take on Shakespeare's iconic characters. In this interview-style book, Dench reminisces about the many roles she has played over her seven-decade career, sharing her unfiltered opinions about each experience. The two primary narrators, O'Hea and Barbara Flynn, who reads for Dench in certain parts, have a friendly, lighthearted rapport, making for a collaborative and lively listen as they discuss Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet. Their natural compatibility keeps the text flowing, with a talk-show feel and charming, playful back-and-forth. Flynn authentically communicates Dench's responses, laughing at appropriate times and pacing her bits judiciously and organically. Occasionally, Dench herself pops into the audio, quoting passages from Shakespeare. VERDICT An intimate exploration of Dench's connection to the many characters she has played, revealing little-known information about her motivations and the influences behind each role. Perfect in audio and highly recommended for anyone seeking a different perspective on Shakespeare's writings and on Dame Judi's prodigious career.--Autumn Wyatt
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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