Showing results for "Shakespeare" in Comedy & Humor

In this BBC full-cast production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena run to the woods and stumble into a life separate from time itself. Fairy magic wreaks havoc and midsummer madness takes over as lovers tread the delicate line between fantasy and reality...

Step into a world of mistaken identities, unrequited love, and comedic intrigue with our collection of audiobooks inspired by Shakespeare's timeless themes. This podcast explores the delightful chaos and human folly that arise when individuals disguise their true selves and navigate complex social dynamics. Each week, we present a different full-length audiobook, offering a diverse range of perspectives, time periods, and storytelling styles. Listeners can expect to gain insight into the human condition while enjoying the humor and wit that such tales bring. With new books added weekly, ...

A master of Russian realism, Anton Chekhov is renowned for his meticulously observed plays and short stories exploring the human condition, in all its joys and sorrows. Included here are six of his best-known dramas, as well as Michael Frayn's adaptation of Wild Honey, drawn from an early, untitled Chekhov play; and one documentary exploring Chekhov's life and work. 

A 'Shakespeare Showdown' podcast that pits host Stephanie Crugnola against a different guest each week! They'll battle 'best of's in Shakespeare's canon and listeners get to vote on the winner!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. Magic, fairies, young lovers chasing each other through a forest, a man with a donkey's head, and impish Puck wreaking havoc right and left. What's going on here? It's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare at his most fanciful. The play opens with Theseus, Duke of Athens, preparing for his wedding. Egeus complains to Theseus that his daughter Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius. When Hermia is given the choice between marriage to Demetrius or life as a nun, she and her true love Lysander flee into the forest. Demetrius follows them; and Helena...

‘Who is this guy, Dad? What is he doing here?’ With an absent wife and a daughter going off the rails, wealthy art collector and philanthropist Simon Strulovitch is in need of someone to talk to. So when he meets Shylock at a cemetery in Cheshire’s Golden Triangle, he invites him back to...

Stuck in a rut? Scared of change? Stressed about the world? Anxious for yourself and your loved ones? Know what, more than 400 years ago everyone felt the same way only without the comfort of light bulbs, central heating and sticky toffee pudding. William Shakespeare wrote about it all - and offered many answers to all kinds of modern questions such as what can we do to conquer our fears, how do we find true love and what does it mean to be human? He also asked: to be or not to be? We're still working on that one. My name's Dave Cohen - comedian, author and Horrible Histories lyric writer ...

Dive into the whimsical world of Twelfth Night, where hidden identities and romantic entanglements lead to a delightful tapestry of love, laughter, and mischief. This enchanting comedy features an array of colorful characters navigating the complexities of affection, friendship, and playful pranks. Join us for a journey filled with both requited and unrequited love, as the charming narrative unfolds in a vibrant setting. (Summary by Karen Savage)

In a twist of fate, local drunkard Christopher Sly stumbles into a tavern, where hes drawn into an elaborate charade that convinces him hes a nobleman! Thus unfolds the captivating tale of The Taming of the Shrew, one of Shakespeares renowned comedies. To entertain this newfound lord, a group of actors reenacts a story of love, rivalry, and transformation, where the enchanting Bianca attracts the attention of numerous suitors. However, her father has a condition the fiery Katherina, the shrew of the play, must find a suitable match first. Enter Petruchio, a determined suitor who will go to any...

Dive into the comedic world of The Taming of the Shrew, one of Shakespeares earliest masterpieces, influenced by Roman comedy and the lively Italian commedia dellarte. Set in Padua, we meet Baptista Minola, a wealthy gentleman with two daughters the fiery Katherina, notorious for her sharp wit, and the sweet Bianca, desired by many suitors. Baptistas decree that Bianca cannot marry until Katherina finds a husband sets the stage for a series of comedic events. Enter Petruchio, determined to wive it wealthily in Padua, who is convinced by Biancas suitors to take on the challenge of wooing ...

Step into the vibrant world of Elizabethan England with William Shakespeares The Merry Wives of Windsor. Following the misadventures of the notorious Sir John Falstaff, who captured hearts in Henry IV, this play marks his final escapade. In the charming town of Windsor, Falstaff hatches a ludicrous scheme to woo two affluent merchant wives, Mistresses Page and Ford, by sending them identical love letters. Little does he know, his cunning plan will backfire spectacularly! As the two clever women band together to teach him a lesson through a series of hilarious pranks, they also navigate the ...

Is it a Shakespearean play? Most likely not, but this intriguing comedy, found in a volume labeled Shakespeare in Charles IIs library, certainly captivates. C. F. Tucker Brooke featured it in his 1818 collection of Shakespeare Apocrypha as one of 14 possible plays attributed to the Bard. With William the Conqueror in disguise and Fair Em revealing unexpected layers, this delightful tale offers a blend of humor and clever twists. - Summary by ToddHW

In one of Shakespeares most provocative comedies, The Merchant of Venice, we follow the ambitious Bassanio as he devises an audacious plan to win the heart of the wealthy heiress, Portia, by borrowing money from the shrewd Jewish moneylender, Shylock. When the loan goes unpaid, Bassanios friend Antonio, the titular Merchant, finds himself in peril, facing a grim fate due to his friends extravagant schemes. As tensions rise and a court case unfolds, the plays heroines must step up to untangle the chaos created by their partners. Join us for this dynamic group recording, completed in just two ...

Dive into the enchanting world of Shakespeares early comedy, Loves Labours Lost, where the intricacies of romance and intellect collide. Set in the royal court of Navarre, the nobles lofty aspirations for scholarly pursuits are swiftly overshadowed when the charming Princess of France and her entourage arrive with a political agenda that ignites a whirlwind of romantic entanglements. This delightful clash of genders, wits, and social hierarchies unfolds through Shakespeares masterful wordplay, seamlessly blending high poetry, cheeky humor, and astute satire to critique both male romantic ...

Shakespeare meets Dashiell Hammett in this wildly entertaining murder mystery from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore—an uproarious, hardboiled take on the Bard’s most performed play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring Pocket, the hero of Fool and The Serpent of Venice...

Wenn ein Mann und eine Frau sich das Leben teilen, ist das ja schon schwierig. Aber wenn Mann und Frau sich auch noch ein und denselben Körper teilen...

Fully improvised Shakespearean plays, complete with big characters, twisting plots, and very necessary soliloquies.

Why Shakespeare? is a podcast hosted by Victoria Gartner in which she asks why? Why do people have such complex relationships with Shakespeare and why do they do it, practice it, revere it or shun it? With guests ranging from actors to academics, directors to skeptics, she explores a wealth of material, from methods to madness, about what it means to do Shakespeare today. Whether you celebrate him, question him, or can’t stand him, this show uncovers what keeps his words buzzing in our world (and our ear!) today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir John Falstaff has very little money upon his arrival in Windsor, and sets out to court two wealthy wives in the hopes of fattening his coin purse. The two clever wives—Mistress Page and Mistress Ford—discover Falstaff’s plot, but instead of rejecting him, set out to have some fun at...

Hot on the heels of the New York Times best seller William Shakespeare’s Star Wars comes the final installment of the original trilogy: William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return. Prithee, attend the tale so far: Han Solo entombed in carbonite, the princess taken captive, the Rebel Alliance...