Chop Bard
Episodes
71 Speaking of Macbeth...
18 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I sit down with G.Robin Smith to talk Macbeth- everything from death and transformation, to "Whatever Happened to Baby Thane?" The Win...
70 No fear till Birnam!
12 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 5.1-5.3 – Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and the Thanes fly from Macbeth as he prepares for the coming war. Suddenly, it's not so good to be t...
69 Breaking Macduff
29 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 4.3 – We find Macduff in England, trying to convince Malcolm to save Scotland and things get weird. New podcast from G.Robin Smith: Ben ...
68 Blood in the Nest
14 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 4.2 – Lady Macduff and her children put in a brief appearance in one of the darkest scenes in the play. Sleep with the Angels, by (De La Veg...
67 Cauldron Fever
24 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 4.1 – The weird sisters lay down some freaky dark magic as Macbeth returns to them for a dose of "good news, bad news". This is way beyond p...
66 The Live Episode!
16 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Variations on Taming of The Shrew, performed by Ehren Ziegler and Kymberly Tuttle- Recorded live at CraftLit live: New York by Knit! Hosted at Soho Ga...
65 Between the lines
08 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 3.5-3.6 – Hecate gets snubbed, Lennox gives us a wonderful example of irony without the humor, and there's a hint of war in the air. The Wit...
64 Dead Man's Party
26 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 3.3-3.4 – A bloody murder is carried out while Macbeth's grand feast gets underway- hey, who invited the bloody ghost? Zombie Dance Party, b...
63 Downside of Regicide
12 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 3.1-3.2 – Banquo has doubts as the Lord and Lady Macbeth settle into their new life of unease, suspicion, and bad dreams. Another Man's Vine...
62 The Primrose path
30 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 2.3-2.4 – Knock, knock. Who's there? Murther. Murther who? King Thuncan hath been murthered!
61 Sleep no more
15 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 2.1-2.2 – Darkness, screeching owls, daggers of the mind, and unseen voices in the night can only mean one thing: So long Duncan, we hardly ...
60 Witch slapped
02 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 1.7 – Macbeth makes a decision, but it doesn't sit well with the wife, and Lady Macbeth unleashes her gentle powers of persuasion. Darkness ...
59 Look who's coming to dinner!
17 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 1.5-6 – Lady Macbeth learns of the honors and events that have fallen upon her gentle husband... and fate is sending a very special guest he...
58 Witch way to Cawdor
04 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 1.3-4 – The Weird Sisters are back, and ready to meet with Macbeth. They have news to share, and something deep and dark begins to stir in t...
57 Hello darkness
20 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth 1.1-2 – We begin with witches, meet King Duncan, and hear news of a bloody battle. I mean lots of blood... Buckets. Rivers of blood, and Mac...
56 Difficult to stage effectively
06 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Macbeth- Pre-show. Time to start our series on one of Shakespeare's darkest plays. It's all fun and games until you start slipping around in the gore....
55 The Episode for Teachers
19 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode for teachers, we take on Shakespeare in the classroom- it's all about identifying the obstacles, and perusing strong objective...
54 Thrusting Shakespeare
07 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, join me, Heather Ordover, and Arielle Lipshaw, as we talk Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, and all things Shakespeare... mostly. C...
53 Deeper than did ever plummet sound
25 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 5.1 – This is it, the end! Nothing left to do, but break and bury the staff, drown the books, and say goodbye to the magic. Oh, and also...
52 Sweet dreams are made of this
16 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 4.1 – Pageant time! Now that Ferdinand is off the hook, and the lovers are free to be together, it's time to celebrate... but the end is...
51 Idus Martias
15 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy the Ides of March, with Chop Bard's remix of one of Shakespeare's most iconic speeches- Mark Antony, from Julius Caesar. (Vocals provided by Mar...
50 Waiting to combust (celebrating 50)
10 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Join me and guest G.Robin Smith (Playwright, Fundraiser, Shakespearean), as we talk Tempest, DOLTS, Shakespeare, and even a little Ben Franklin, on th...
49 The dangers of sleeping
04 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 3.2-3 – Caliban plots a murder with his new master, and Prospero throws a dinner party for King and company; guess what he's serving... ...
48 It must be love
14 Feb 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 3.1 – In honor of Valentine's Day, we peek in on the lovers. It's not nice to spy, but since Prospero's hiding behind that bush over the...
47 Drunken Shakespeare
06 Feb 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 2.2 – Caliban, unhappy with his current job situation, makes a huge career shift, and takes company with the recently unemployed, Trincu...
46 Melted candy conscience
22 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 2.1 – Time for some villainy, as we catch up with the King, and his sea-swallowed court.... do I smell regicide cooking? Good thing Fran...
45 The son becomes the father
07 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 1.2c – Poor Ferdinand... His father is drowned, his friends are lost, and he's stuck on a lonely island without- wait, a girl! You live ...
44 "For I am nothing if not critical"
17 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest in review! In this episode, we'll take a look at Julie Taymor's version of 'The Tempest', as well as a few other versions, like Forbidden ...
43 Servants of air and earth
17 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 1.2b – Behind every great sorcerer, you'll find great servants- enter Ariel, and Caliban. Show me the magic! The Mermaid, by Great Big S...
42 Dark backward abysm of time
01 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 1.2a – Safe on dry land, it’s story time as we meet a couple exiles; Prospero and his young daughter, Miranda. If you fall asleep, bla...
41 Don't rock the Boatswain
11 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest 1.1 – A ship bound for Naples, is caught in a violent storm. If you thought Ophelia had “too much of water”, you ain’t seen nothin...
40 The Tempest blows!
28 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
The Tempest – We begin our third series with one of Shakespeare’s last plays: on a mysterious island, inhabited by spirits, monsters and survivors...
39 Unbated and envenomed since 1600
07 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet 5.2 – It's the end for Hamlet. But he won’t go down quietly, and certainly not alone. He's going to have plenty of company in the hereafter...
38 Two clowns enter, one clown leaves
25 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet 5.1 – Finally, Hamlet’s back in the play, and there are clowns in the graveyard! It doesn’t make Ophelia’s funeral any more festive tho...
37 Ladies of Hamlet
20 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet special - Guest actor, Kymberly Tuttle, and I speak about the women of Hamlet, Shakespeare, and somehow end up with a little Brecht in the mix....
36 Captured by Pirates is good
11 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
35 Mad world
28 Aug 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
34 Crossing Denmark
19 Aug 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 prom...
33 So long, and thanks for all the worms!
10 Aug 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 Poloni...
32 Hamlet... in the closet... with the rapier...
23 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet 3.4 – Hamlet finally confronts his mother, we lose the foolish old man, and Freud’s evil influence returns, attempting to turn everyone int...
31 This hent isn't horrid enough
08 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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, Ha...
30 What’s it all about, Hamlet?
19 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
29 What’s the rub got to do with it?
04 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
28 Speak it to the wolves
22 May 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet 2.2 part 2 – Hamlet is reunited with his old chums Rosencrantz & Guildenstern… or is it Guildenstern & Rosencrantz… then the actors show ...
27 OMG this is the longest scene!
22 May 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
26 The art of indirectly directing
06 May 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 gro...
25 I ain't afraid of no ghosts
21 Apr 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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.
24 Chaste treasure lockdown
07 Apr 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
23 Welcome to Elsinore!
24 Mar 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet 1.2 - Come meet the new King, his sometime sister-wife, and his chief-courtier-cousin-son, Hamlet.
22 Cue the ghost
10 Mar 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Hamlet 1.1 - we begin at midnight, in the cold… and already there is trouble in the air.
21 Stick it Freud!
23 Feb 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 Ham...
20 Poor sacrifices of enmity
31 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
19 O, woeful, woeful, woeful…
21 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
18 Just like the time Hermione died
11 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
17 Where are all the sword fights?
27 Dec 2009
Contributed by Lukas
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 goo...
16 The Friar Strikes Back
01 Dec 2009
Contributed by Lukas
What has become of Romeo? We’ll find out as we poke around in act III scene 3, and take a peek into III.4 to see what the Capulet’s are up too. Is...
15 The Halloween Episode
30 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Happy halloween, from Chop bard!
14 Worser than death
29 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Act III.2 gives us Juliet, as she impatiently awaits the arrival of her untried husband- is it just me or did it suddenly get a lot hotter in here? Qu...
13 The intermission Episode
17 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
We take a brief intermission from the tragedy of Romeo & Juliet and talk about Orange-girls, the authorship question and... intermission. Some of the ...
12 O, loving hate
22 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
It’s act III, and everything is about to change. Spoiler alert: not everyone will make it out alive. Some of the music provided in this show, comes ...
11 It’s all in the details
28 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
We’re wrapping up act II, with scenes 4, 5, and 6: We get a little more Mercutio, a dash of salty nurse, all topped off by a secret marriage!
10 Mind your Thees and Yous
24 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Act II.3 introduces us to Friar Laurence - Romeo is in good hands now - and we’ll hear his wise old advice. Also, have a look at www.publictheater.o...
09 Wherefore means why!
29 May 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Safely hidden by the night we sneak into Act II. 2… the long awaited balcony scene! Did I say safely? There be dangerous water ahead.
08 Love be blind
20 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
We stagger into Act 2 scene one, as Romeo tries to avoid his mischievous friends, setting Mercutio in rare form. And I review McCarter Theatre’s pro...
07 Prodigious Birth of Love
11 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
We finish off act I. Romeo and Juliet finally meet, and we have a new segment- Cover your tender ears, it's hot!
06 A largess universal
21 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Caught up in the monumental event of the day, we take another brief break from Romeo & Juliet to address the Shakespearean quality this swearing in of...
05 It's the mercutio Show!
21 Jan 2009
Contributed by Lukas
We're into Act I scene 4, and it's all about Mercutio. Forget Romeo and Juliet, this is the man of the hour. He's a bit raunchy, but you got to love h...
04 Why all the repetition?
06 Oct 2008
Contributed by Lukas
We break from our exploration of Romeo & Juliet, and take a look at two of the movies made from Shakespeare’s play. Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrma...
03 Wormwood Nipples!
27 Aug 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This is act 1 scene 2 and 3; We've got fate cooking up a little party, and a nurse who likes talking about her dugs. Yummy.
02 They Die?
09 Jul 2008
Contributed by Lukas
This is Act 1, scene 1; we’re easing into Romeo and Juliet. We linger awhile over the epilogue, point out some flaws, and offer up a little comedy i...
01 Tearing into Will!
27 Jun 2008
Contributed by Lukas
We proclaim ourselves to be the cure for boring Shakespeare, toss around some knowledge to show we're not punks, and offer up some tools to help disse...