Trace the Noble Dust

Ambition. Greed. Lust…

pooryorickcatalogue — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:11:45 +0000

There’s a trailer at Basilisk Films for a new film version of Richard III, starring David Carradine, Maria Conchita Alonso, Sally Kirkland, Richard Tyson, Sung Hi Lee, Steven Williams and Lori Petty. The tag line reads: “Ambition. Greed. Lust. Betrayal. Murder. Welcome to Hollywood.” Yep, seriously.

Check it out at the official site http://basiliskfilms.com/. The trailer seems to be doubled for some reason, so if it sounds like there’s an echo, scroll down and turn off the second one.

The film appears to be very … Hollywood. You have been warned.

Eddie Izzard doing Christopher Walken doing Shakespeare

pooryorickcatalogue — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 23:22:33 +0000

WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE

Branagh’s Hamlet Will NOT Be Released in Hi-Def

pooryorickcatalogue — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:02:54 +0000

We have just received word that Warner has abandoned plans to release Branagh’s Hamlet in either HD or Blu-Ray for the moment, so the standard edition on August 14 will have to do until they change their mind.

Click here to Pre-Book Kenneth Branagh’s HAMLET now!

Branagh’s As You Like it on HBO

pooryorickcatalogue — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:58:50 +0000

HBO has announced Branagh’s As You Like it will be broadcast on Tuesday, August 21 at 9 pm. For additional and repeat broadcasts, please consult the schedule at www.hbo.com.

The DVD will be released on September 25, 2007. See the previous post for details and to pre-book this title now.

Branagh’s As You Like It due on DVD in September

pooryorickcatalogue — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:17:13 +0000

With a setting inspired by 19th Century Japan, Kenneth Branagh adapts Shakespeare’s lightest and most delightful comedy As You Like It, a celebration of the enduring power of love in all its many disguises. Witty, playful and utterly magical, the story is a compelling romantic adventure in which Rosalind and Orlando’s famous courtship is played out against a backdrop of political rivalry, banishment and exile in Forest of Arden.

With: Brian Blessed, Dallas Bryce Howard, Richard Clifford, Adrian Lester, Kevin Kline, David Oyelowo, Richard Briers, Aflred Molina

Pre-Book AS YOU LIKE IT Today!

This production is also tentatively scheduled to be shown on HBO in August. Can’t wait? Whet your appetite on the trailer:

Pre-Book AS YOU LIKE IT Today!

Shakespeare Re-Told Coming July 24

pooryorickcatalogue — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:56:13 +0000

The four cutting-edge productions in this collection bring Shakespeare alive for a 21st century audience. Macbeth is the chef in a three-star restaurant, slicing apart his celebrity boss, Duncan. Beatrice and Benedick are rival co-anchors on a nightly newscast whose open hostility masks passion of a different kind. Titania and Bottom carouse together in a tawdry theme resort called Dream Park. And the eccentric aristocrat Petruchio sets out to tame the conservative MP Kate in a politically incorrect marriage of convenience. Playful, cunning and passionate, these adaptations breathe new life into four classic plays, perfectly complementing the great BBC Shakespeare tradition.

With: Imelda Staunton, Keeley Hawes, Bill Patterson, Rufus Sewell, James McAvoy, Billie Piper

Much Ado About Nothing by David Nicholls. Sarah Parish, Damian Lewis and Billie Piper star in this tale of love and deception in the studios of Wessex Tonight.

Macbeth by Peter Moffat. Shakespeare’s famous tragedy is relocated to the heated world of a top restaurant kitchen. Starring James McAvoy and Keeley Hawes.

The Taming of the Shrew by Sally Wainwright. Shirley Henderson, Rufus Sewell and Stephen Tompkinson star in this glamorous updating of Shakespeare’s sex-war comedy.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Peter Bowker. Fairies and love-juice abound in this comic tale of love rediscovered, starring Imelda Staunton, Bill Paterson, and Johnny Vegas.

Includes interviews with cast and crew from all four productions.

Pre-book SHAKESPEARE RETOLD today!

Stratford Swan Report

pooryorickcatalogue — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 02:43:09 +0000

Vol.4: Corrections

Looks like Molly is still holding on to her two cygnets, and Josephine lost one to a mink yesterday.

The exciting news of the day is that I ran into June, one of the kind caretakers of the swans. June tells me that I have been mistaken. Pat and Tom have been sent off to live on a farm, largely due to the fact that swans generally nest in the same place each time, and since they kept setting up shop right in front of the Tom Patterson Theatre, the powers that be judged the arrangement to be dangerous for the birds. The new comers are actually Angela and Nick. I had mistaken them for Pat and Tom due to the proximity of their nests.

I’ve also learned that while Margaret laid 7-8 eggs, the mink ran off with at least two of them before they even hatched. And rumours of her husband Charles’ demise appear to be greatly exaggerated. Huzzah, Charles!

Real Shakespeare news tomorrow, I promise.

Stratford Swan Report

pooryorickcatalogue — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:33:54 +0000

Volume 3: Or, Don’t Eat Me Because I’m Beautiful

Here’s the current Swan status on the Stratford lake:

Pat is now the proud mother of one cygnet. Looks like she just had the one egg, judging by the left over shells after she left the nest. You can find her hanging around the base of the William Hutt Bridge.

Margaret II has lost the last of her cygnets. I saw a very naughty looking mink running across the path recently.

Molly is down to two, a royal and a polish. You can find her up at the top end of the pond, by the bridge that crosses near the Stratford Festival’s Festival Theatre over to William Street.

Josephine (aha! I’ve found her name at least!) is holding steady with 5 cygnets, mostly all royals. How she manages to protect them so well, I have no idea, but you can usually find them floating around Tom Patterson island.

William Hutt Passes Away

pooryorickcatalogue — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:15:24 +0000

Stratford Festival Press Release:

June 27 2007…It is with great sadness that the Stratford Festival of Canada announces
the death of William Hutt. The much beloved and respected actor died peacefully in his
sleep this morning. He was 87 years old.

Mr. Hutt was a legend at Stratford and in the Canadian theatre community. As a founding
company member, director and actor, he participated in 39 seasons and 130 productions.
He was an outstanding actor, captivating audiences with both dramatic and comedic
roles.

“William Hutt was my mentor, my friend, a great actor and a national treasure,�? said
Artistic Director Richard Monette. Quoting Hamlet, he remarked: “‘He was a man, take
him for all in all: we shall not look upon his like again.’�?

For the full Stratford Festival Press Release, go to http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/about/pdf/NR222007.pdf

Stratford Swan Report

pooryorickcatalogue — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:50:34 +0000

The swans are doing very nicely, and I’ve recently discovered that Pat is nesting underneath the William Hutt Bridge (crossing the river at Waterloo Street). This means that the mystery swan who nests surrounded by the tall bushes across from Tom Patterson Island is still a mystery, so I’ve elected to call her Laura (because she sleeps in the Bushes), until someone tells me otherwise.

Molly hatched out a total of 7 cygnets, of which the first was eaten by a minx within the first day or two. She’s now down to three, so the minx and/or snapping turtles are sitting around somewhere looking very smug. Margaret II only hatched two of her 7 or 8 eggs, and so far they are both doing well. I’ve heard there was a third, but if that’s the case, it went the way of all flesh pretty early on, since I never saw it. Laura (aka, the mystery swan) is holding firm with 5 royals. Pat appears to have nested very late, so it’s not clear to me yet whether or not her brood has hatched yet. Will keep you posted.

Word on the river is that there’s also another swan nesting up in the grove near the Gallery Stratford, so if you venture up that way, keep an eye out for them. I’ve also heard a rumour that Margaret’s cantankerous old husband Charles died recently, which would explain why I haven’t seen him lurking about. If this is true, Margaret does not seem all that much worse for wear.

Don’t forget - bring lettuce or swan food. Please don’t feed them bread.