a 38 episode podcast in which joel fishbane explores each of Shakespeare's plays, offering tidbits, trivia, and revisionist interpretations of all those plays they made you read in school.
Henry IV Part One sits as a touchstone in Shakespeare's career, his first glorious success and the means by which we can mark his development as a playwright. In Episode 15 of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane explores how, with Henry IV Part One, Shakespeare the Artist truly arrives. Also, the play is summarized and several adaptations are discussed.
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Shakespeare Unbard is a podcast designed to get your excited about Shakespeare - but there's one play you should never get excited about. In Episode 14, Joel Fishbane discusses the many, many problems with "The Merchant of Venice".
Read MoreOf Shakespeare's ten plays about the English monarchy, King John stands out because it has nothing to do with anyone named Henry or Richard. Why did Shakespeare choose to write about King John and not, say, Henry III? In this episode of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane examines this complicated play. Also: the show is summarized and two different productions are reviewed.
Read MoreHow do you solve a problem like Helena? In Episode 12 of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane discusses the good and the bad about one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. Also: the show gets a one minute summary and the 1999, 1968, and 1935 films are discussed.
Read MoreDespite popular opinion, there is nothing timeless about Romeo and Juliet - and the lovers are the least interesting part of the play. In Episode 11 of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane examines the greatest love story ever told. Also: a one minute summary and reviews of the films by Baz Luhrman and Franco Zefferelli.
Read MoreRichard II is one of Shakespeare's greatest works and if it was put in the Colosseum with King Lear or Hamlet, the odds would be pretty even about which of them would win. In this episode of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane examines this underrated masterpiece. Also: the show is summarized and a review of a production featuring David Tennant.
Read MoreThe Comedy of Errors may be an early comedy, but it is a sophisticated one and if you didn't have a timeline to look at, you might guess it was written by a writer at the top of his game.
Read MoreLove's Labour's Lost is a play with no plot, no villains, and no happy ending - and yet the play has such a charming premise that Joel Fishbane is enchanted everytime the play crosses his path. Also: a one minute summary and both the 2000 film and 2013 musical are discussed.
Read MoreHorror is not a popular genre for theatre or for Shakespeare, but he tackled it in Titus Andronicus and, if taken from that perspective, it becomes a show far more unique than its detractors might think. In this episode of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane discusses this bloody and brutal play.
Word of warning: this episode of Shakespeare Unbard discuses Titus Andronicus, a play that deals in adult themes. Viewer discretion is advised.
Read MoreAfter nearly half a dozen plays of dubious merit, Shakespeare finally found his legs in this story of the hunchbacked man who would be king. In Episode 06 of Shakespeare Unbard, Joel Fishbane discusses why he - and the rest of the world - has never truly tired of Richard III.
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