ELICA MIWA

Category: Elica’s Works

  • The True Meaning of “Burden” for Shakespeare Girls. [Shakespeare For You]

    The True Meaning of “Burden” for Shakespeare Girls. [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭Heavy?  Belike it hath some burden then? 

    — Julia, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-2

    [ACTING TIPS]

    The word “burden” in Shakespeare, when female characters use, it means to be under the lover or husband in bed, or even to conceive a baby.  

    So, when Julia hears the word “heavy, ” immediately change the meaning into this, at the same time, retain the original meaning of “burden”.  

    Showing the double meaning is one of the trickiest things in Shakespeare.  

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  • Maids in Modesty Say “No” [Shakespeare For You]

    Maids in Modesty Say “No” [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭Since maids in modesty say ‘No’ to that Which they would have the profferer construe ‘Ay’.

    — Julia, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-2

    [ACTING TIPS]

    You can say this as a maid in modesty, or not.  You can put a mood of sadness, frustration, or helplessness.  Try various feelings and moods.

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  • They Do Not Love [Shakespeare For You]

    They Do Not Love [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭They do not love that do not show their love.

    — Julia, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-2

    [ACTING TIPS]

    Again, Julia is in love with Proteus (he), and she needs a proof that he is in love with her too.  But Proteus does not show his love enough for her.

    You may act Julia with frustration, fear, or worry.

  • Fire That’s Closest Kept Burns Most Of All [Shakespeare For You]

    Fire That’s Closest Kept Burns Most Of All [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭

    Julia:  His little speaking shows his love but small.  

    Lucetta:  Fire that’s closest kept burns most of all.  

    — Julia, Lucetta, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-2

    [ACTING TIPS]

    Julia is in love with Proteus (he), and she needs a proof that he is in love with her too.  Lucetta knows that.  

    You may act Julia as stubborn, proud, and showing no love toward him.  Julia will speak her true mind that she is madly in love with him as a monologue later, so be brave to hide it.  

    You may act Lucetta as kind, understanding, nice maid, nursing a stubborn child.

    Try many combination.  Their ages may be quite close, like sisters.

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  • A Woman’s Reason [Shakespeare For You]

    A Woman’s Reason [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭 I have no other but a woman’s reason:  I think him so because I think him so.

    — Lucetta, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-2

    [ACTING TIPS]

    Lucetta the maid says to her mistress.  A “woman’s reason” means there is no reason.  This phrase makes me smile to imagine young Shakespeare was told so from his girlfriend or from his mother, or maybe from one of his house’s maids.  I love to say this for once.  Anyway, act it proudly, positively, and definitely.

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  • Now We Are Alone [Shakespeare For You]

    Now We Are Alone [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭 But say, Lucetta, now we are alone, Wouldst thou then counsel me to fall in love?

    — Julia, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-2

    [ACTING TIPS]

    Julia is to choose a husband from suitors, and ask advice from her maid, Lucetta. 
    This husband choosing with the maid scene is repeated in The Merchant of Venice’s Portia and her maid Nelissa. 

    Both Julia and Portia are going to disguise themselves to be a boy.  But think that you are going to perform both of them, then you must make big differences between these two ladies. 

    How would you do?

    Just to point out for fun that “now we are alone” resembles Hamlet’s “Now I am alone” just before he starts his third soliloquy.

  • My Horns Are His Horns [Shakespeare For You]

    My Horns Are His Horns [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭 Why then, my horns are his horns, whether I wake or sleep.

    — Speed, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-1

    (I said scene 2 in the video; it is scene 1!)

    [ACTING TIPS]

    Speed is the servant to Valentine, and a comic character.  This Master/Servant pair is typical for Renaissance Italian comedy (Commedia Dell’arte), and shows Shakespeare is influenced by it.  So, be funny!  

    You may know the “horn” gag.  When a husband has a horn, it means his wife has betrayed him.  The horn on the head of a man is the proof that this man cannot sexually satisfy his wife.

    The servant is the property of the master.  Therefore, the servant’s property is his master’s.

    “Whether I wake or sleep” is deprived from the Bible.

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  • Once More, Adieu [Shakespeare For You]

    Once More, Adieu [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭 Once more, adieu.  My father at the road
    Expects my coming, there to see me shipped.

    — Valentine, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-1

    [ACTING TIPS]

    Finally, Valentine is leaving, after exchanging a word-association game on love.  

    Say good bye to Proteus.  

    Think, why “My father at the road expects my coming” is said.  Maybe Proteus shows hesitation?  Maybe Valentine needs another minute to say something?  

    Find many reasons and choose one at a time.

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  • More Than Over-Shoes In Love [Shakespeare For You]

    More Than Over-Shoes In Love [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭 That’s a deep story of a deeper love; For he was more than over-shoes in love.

    — Proteus, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-1

    [ACTING TIPS]

    An example of their word association game.  Valentine’s former words leads Proteus to say this.  Valentine has referred to Greek mythical love story Hero & Leander.  Leander drowned himself in deep sea.  Valentine laughs at Proteus is shallowly in love.  Then, Proteus says this.  “More than over-shoes” means “head over heels”.

    In acting this, it is important to keep your humour, but you’ve got to be different from Valentine.  Need to talk with the actor of Valentine to make differences clear.

    Also, this line is a good example of iambic pentameter.

  • Shallow Story of Deep Love [Shakespeare For You]

    Shallow Story of Deep Love [Shakespeare For You]

    🎭 That’s on some shallow story of deep love.  How young Leander cross’d the Hellespont.

    — Valentine, Two Gentlemen of Verona 1-1

    [ACTING TIPS]

    One of the “hard-to-understand” phrases for the modern audience.  Leander is a Greek mythological character who is in Hero and Leander story.  It is a love tragedy so popular during Shakespearean era.  Hero and Leander were in love secretly.  Leander swam the Hellespont (now the Dardanelles) to see her every night.  But one night, he lost the way and drowned.  Shakespeare refers the theme of Hero & Leander many times. 

    From this line, two gentlemen of Verona interchange conversation for a minute, on shallow, deep, love, and boots, aa a word-association game.  So, be playful.  Pick up the word you want to change the meaning upside down.  Win the game.