Chop Bard

Hamlet 4.6 - 4.7 – Horatio gets a letter from Hamlet, and oh joy, he’s back in town. Claudius gets a similar letter, but isn’t so happy; time to come up with a plan to kill the little @#$% before it’s too late! And oh, poor Laertes, I’m afraid we have some bad news… Three recommendations this episode: Forgotten Classics– Julie talks about Chop Bard in Episode 132: The Riddle of the Sands, chapter 27 She has some very nice things to say about Chop bard. Listen to her, she knows what she’s talking about! CraftLit – A Podcast for Crafters Who Love Books. You’re in good hands with host Heather, as she’ll lead you through these dangerous  books- you’ll be the better for it. The Complete Arkangel Shakespeare – Julie mentioned she was inspired by Chop Bard to listen to Hamlet in this audio series. I’ve heard of these, but never listened. I’ve order one, and can’t wait to try it out.

Hamlet 4.5 – Ophelia goes crazy, (she has her reasons), we’re besieged with some really long sentences, and Laertes comes home looking for revenge! It’s all Hamlet’s fault (except for the sentences)… but he’s out of town right now.

Hamlet 4.4 – En Route to England, our escorted prince runs into Fortinbras and his army, inspiring him to perform one final soliloquy… we are promised bloody thoughts. Hurray! How's It Gonna End, by Tom Waits, courtesy of http://music.mevio.com

Hamlet 4.1-3 - Hamlet’s hidden the body, and good luck getting a straight answer out of him! Where is it? Sponge… Where? Worms… Where’s Polonius? Guts... Time to go to England. Mother…

Hamlet 3.4 – Hamlet finally confronts his mother, we lose the foolish old man, and Freud’s evil influence returns, attempting to turn everyone into an hysteric.

Hamlet 3.3 – Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are getting ready for a trip, Claudius holds a private little pity party, and on route to see his mother, Hamlet crosses over to the dark side.

Hamlet 3.2 – The play’s the thing wherein Shakespeare can hide the “C” word. It’s opening night in Elsinore, and while his Mousetrap may not win a Tony, he will at least get a Claudius.

Hamlet 3.1 – "To be or not to be", and "get thee to a nunnery". What else is there to say? Hamlet has a tough choice to make, a difficult encounter to navigate and- oh yeah, a play to edit.

Hamlet 2.2 part 2 – Hamlet is reunited with his old chums Rosencrantz & Guildenstern… or is it Guildenstern & Rosencrantz… then the actors show up, a plan is born, and we get another famous soliloquy- lights out, and scene. Mari Mac, by The Dust Rhinos - music.mevio.com

Hamlet 2.2 part 1 – R & G have been sent for to spy on H for C & G, but P thinks he already knows why H is mad. V & C return with good news from the King of N, and P tries to board H. And that’s just in the first part.

Hamlet 2.1 – Reynaldo (who’s Reynaldo?) is sent to Paris by Polonius to spy on Laertes, while Ophelia is having more boy trouble. It’s rough growing up in Denmark. Love is denied by The Pulpit courtesy of http://music.mevio.com

Hamlet 1.4-5 - Time for Hamlet to meet the ghost... and his world is about to change... and yes, there's something rotten in Denmark.

Hamlet 1.3 – Ophelia gets a double dose of advice, from her Brother and her father; both drumming to the same tune- stay away from Hamlet. What’s a girl to do…? Run Runaway by Great Big Sea courtesy of http://music.mevio.com

Hamlet 1.2 - Come meet the new King, his sometime sister-wife, and his chief-courtier-cousin-son, Hamlet.

Hamlet 1.1 - we begin at midnight, in the cold… and already there is trouble in the air.

We begin our series on Hamlet by letting go of some of the baggage this poor play has had to carry around, while we shed some light on the myth of Hamlet’s mommy issues. Shakespeare Pie by The FuMP, courtesy of http://music.mevio.com

Its drink and dagger time in Verona as we end the play with act 5 scene 3. Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished- hey, we get one more sword fight! Bring it on by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, courtesy of http://music.mevio.com

The wedding cheer becomes a sad burial feast, as we close out act 4, and jump into act 5-which is full of poison and wayward letters. Not even William Kempe (? - 1603) could turn this around.

We follow Juliet into Act 4, scene 1 though 3. If the Friar can’t help her find a way out, at least she has a knife. Still no sword fights… but there is a potion.

The final scene in act III is chock full of sorrow and obstacles. The kids part ways, and Juliet is given an ultimatum... Take a bite anyway- it's good for you!