Barry Edelstein

If you're going to participate in a Shakespeare play in any capacity (but especially acting or directing) this should be the first book you read. It's a handbook on how to love and appreciate what Shakespeare has done, and also ways of coming at his sometimes difficult work and making it sing on stage - especially when it comes to Shakespeare's verse (which comprises about two thirds of the dialogue in his plays). Lots of example, that are sometimes a little tedious to get through, but show more always instructive. You can skip around to the chapters that are relevant to what you're doing. I bought this as an eBook because I wanted to be able to search the text for various terms and focus on them. It really is a workbook for acting Shakespeare. show less

A wonderful, accessible book with plenty of useful insights into Shakespeare for virtually anyone with an interest in the Bard, but...there is no index. A book like this really should have one. My copy is the 1st edition. Whether the 2nd edition includes an index, I cannot say.

A lovely fun book with great ideas for all sorts of situations. Some of the 'translations' were clumsy and a bit supercilious but this a minor quibble.