Summary of Shakespeare by Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea: The Man Who Pays the Rent

By BookRix

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Summary of Shakespeare by Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea: The Man Who Pays the Rent

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Dame Judi Dench, a renowned Shakespearean actress, shares her seven-decade career with actor and director Brendan O'Hea. In this intimate conversation, she shares her rehearsal process, triumphs, and backstage shenanigans, revealing the craft of speaking in verse and her personal interpretations of famous scenes. The book is filled with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit, and rehearsal room etiquette, making it a love letter to Shakespeare.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Apr 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9783755476047

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Summary of

Shakespeare

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Summary of Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea’s book

The Man Who Pays the Rent

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Summary of Shakespeare by Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea: The Man Who Pays the Rent

By GP SUMMARY© 2024, GP SUMMARY.

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NOTICE

Please note that this book contains a summary of the original content, which is a condensation of the key ideas and information found in the original book. Therefore, it is recommended to read the original book for a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the topics discussed. This summary is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to infringe upon the intellectual property rights of the original book.

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INTRODUCTION

The Man who Pays the Rent is a book that focuses on the life and work of Judi Dench, a renowned Shakespearean actress. The book was initially intended to be a book, but the author discovered that it could be a more accessible resource. Judi, who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company since the 1970s, is known for her humor, wit, and remarkable memory. She can recite entire scenes of Shakespeare, remember events from her childhood, and even have a photographic memory of almost all her costumes. The interviews were conducted over four years, with the author reading each scene and Judi offering a running commentary. Judi has always loved to paint and draw, and her scripts are filled with doodles. Her eyesight has deteriorated, and she only agreed to include her recent illustrations in the book when a friend suggested they might inspire others with visual impairments. The book also includes Judi's reluctance to be dogmatic and her belief that there is no right way of performing Shakespeare. The author believes that Shakespeare's characters reflect our own selves back to us, and that there are as many interpretations of Shakespeare as there are people who have ever been, are, and will be.

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

The author recalls their experience playing Macbeth in the theatre, which inspired them to pursue a career in acting. They first performed the play in Nottingham in 1963 and then took it to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. The audience was vociferous and enjoyed the rhymes. The performance was challenging due to the heat and the presence of vultures. The author also played Lady Macbeth for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1976 at the Other Place in Stratford. The production was pared-back, with muted blacks and greys, except for King Duncan. The author was frightened by the play, but despite the superstition surrounding it, they found it liberating and exciting due to the close audience. The author's experience with Macbeth and the Scottish Play has left them with a deep appreciation for the art form.

In the text, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband, Macbeth, revealing his love for his wife. The letter reveals that Macbeth has met three strange people who salute him, and Lady Macbeth is racing to say Hail, King that shalt be. She knows Macbeth well and doesn't question the prophecy of the weird sisters.

A messenger arrives, revealing that the King comes here tonight, meaning Duncan. Lady Macbeth uses a pick-up line to summon the spirits to help her unsex herself, as she knows she's crossed the line into something profane. She needs to invoke the spirits to help her lose her femininity and push Macbeth towards what she believes is his due.

The text also discusses the Macbeths' relationship with the Nixons, who were the Kennedys. Lady Macbeth is not interested in being the queen and pushing Macbeth towards what she believes is his due. Macbeth appears to be preparing for the King's arrival, and Lady Macbeth completes the shared line, showing her mind racing.

The text also touches on the couple's relationship, with Lady Macbeth expressing her ambition and the need for King Duncan to be provided for. She finishes the speech with a rhyme, which could mean she wants to put an end to the conversation or make it more conclusive. She hasn't chosen the word sovereign by accident.

Lady Macbeth welcomes King Duncan, who is frightened and nervous in his room. She is hospitable and doesn't show any hint of the horror to come. Later, Macbeth is alone and cold about the assassination. Lady Macbeth arrives and they share many lines, indicating the speed of the scene and their attunement to each other.

Macbeth is having collywobbles and tells her he doesn't want to proceed with the murder. She uses their relationship as a bargaining chip, thinking he's a coward and lacks manliness. They have only one night to bump him off, and Lady Macbeth invokes the spirits to galvanize him.

The passion they have for each other makes perfect sense, as they talk about it all the time. King Duncan refers to her as Macbeth's 'great love', and everyone knows it's a wonderful marriage.

Lady Macbeth manages to steady Macbeth and it's the night of the murder.

In the rehearsals of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the audience was tense and quiet, with Trevor blocking up every light. Macbeth went into a tailspin after the murder, filled with regret and doubt. Lady Macbeth, who had heard him call out for Christ, was furious as he was about to give the whole game away.

The next scene with the Porter adds comedy to the tension, as Duncan is found murdered and chaos ensues. Lady Macbeth's silence is compelling, as she watches Macbeth like a hawk. She faints, possibly faking it to draw attention to herself. Banquo, who was with Macbeth during the witches prophecy, is kept in check by her.

Duncan's sons have fled to Ireland, and they are spreading rumors about their father's death. Lady Macbeth is alone with a servant and there is no sign of Macbeth. She asks for her husband to attend his leisure for a few words, desperate as he is not around.

Lady Macbeth realizes that there is a fissure opening up between them because he keeps shutting the door. Trevor Nunn never talked about the rhythm and structure of the verse, but John Barton and Peter Hall did. Peter saw the verse as a piece of music, while John was rigorous and passionate about the plays.

Trevor Nunn, an actor, is a key figure in the play, as he is attentive to the performance and takes an interest in the psychology, relationships, and humanity of the characters. He is not didactic but has a way of suggesting things and leaving it up to the audience.

Lady Macbeth, who is locked out of her husband's life, is left alone and depressed. She believes that their relationship is deteriorating, and they must return to their former state. Macbeth reveals that he has plans for Banquo and Fleance, which