- Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, PAL
- Language English
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: To be announced
- Studio: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books
- DVD Release Date: 1 Sep 2004
- Run Time: 60 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- ASIN: 1557835365
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
29,430 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #18 in Film & TV > Music DVDs > Instructional
- #66 in Film & TV > Documentary > Instructional
- #73 in Film & TV > Musicals & Classical > Musicals & Stage Performances > Stage Shows
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About the Director
In these master classes John Barton, the co-founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, calls on his actors to listen to the language of the plays and to hear the messages that Shakespeare sends them through his use of antithesis and the switch from prose to verse. Kevin Kline, Dustin Hoffman, Cynthia Nixon, Charles S. Dutton, Peter O'Toole, Ian McKellan, Judi Dench and Harriet Walter have all studied under Barton, earning this acclaimed director the legendary soubriquet the Shakespeare swami. The Shakespeare Sessions cover Creating a World with Words; The Clues are in the Text; Play the Story; Shakespeare's Advice to the Actor; Changing Gears: Prose to Verse; The Questions Reveal the Character; Handling Emotion; Set the Word against the Word; Connecting with the Audience.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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I first became aware of John Barton back in the 1980's when our PBS station here in the States carried "Playing Shakespeare With The RSC." His knowledge and discussions with the actors on Shakespeare were truly fascinating. I was thrilled when they finally released that series on DVD last year. When I came across this DVD with John Barton doing the same sort of instruction/discussion with American actors, I had to get it. I enjoyed watching this program a great deal. As always, Barton's comments are instructive and of great interest to anyone reading/acting Shakespeare. My only complaint about the program is that it's much too short (1 hour). I could have happily listened to Barton discussing the subject matter for several hours.
Here, Barton the great expert on Shakespeare's language, works with American actors emphasising their cultural strengths as he helps them to unpick the many levels of meaning in the text. John Barton is an excellent teacher and this is a great opportunity to be able to 'audit' his classes. "The Shakespeare Sessions" is a valuable resource for teachers, students, performers and audiences who want to deepen their understanding of what these plays are saying about the human condition. Barton is old, gentle, wise, erudite and passionately committed to honouring the value of the text. He embodies a wealth of knowledge that is tantamount to a national treasure.
5 of 9 people found the following review helpful
For a decade I have longed for a copy of John Barton's Shakespeare Sessions, from the early eighties, but the sellers of the VHS and early DVD sets want many pounds for their copies. Now it is available, with extras and at a fraction of the price, on DVD as Playing Shakespeare [ASIN:B003EQ4YFO Playing Shakespeare [DVD] [1984]- one of the greatest bargains on Amazon for Shakespeare enthusiasts.
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