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Original poster

Can ordinary uneducated/uncultured people follow a Shakespere play?

93 replies

Nevertime · 09/12/2021 16:52

I did English Lit Olevel (B) but have to say I did it mainly by "learning" the passnotes, I never did understand any Shakespere I read or understand the answers I wrote!

I haven't looked at any Shakespere in the 30 odd years since. Most of my friends are from similar backgrounds.

In the interests of broadening my horizons I find myself the proud owner of 2 tickets for A Comedy of Errors. Will I be able to follow what's going on?

I need to invite someone, most people I know will feel the same way I do, how do I "sell" it to them? Will we have a clue what's going on?

Or am I overthinking and should approach it like any other theatre production?

OP posts:
StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 09/12/2021 16:57

Yes you are overthinking it.

DaisyDozyDee · 09/12/2021 16:57

You can absolutely enjoy it, especially if it’s a good production. You might get more out of it if you’re roughly familiar with the story first. You don’t need to read the full text - a children’s summary version would be plenty. We like the manga versions, but there are options available for all tastes and preferences.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 09/12/2021 16:58

And if Im wrong then you can leave at the interval and go get a drink instead Smile

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Theatre
EmBeEmBe · 09/12/2021 16:58

Yes, a comedy of errors is very visual. And very funny. Enjoy!

Sportsnight · 09/12/2021 16:59

You will enjoy most of it, and some will go over your head, but if it’s a good production it doesn’t matter. I say that as the owner of a degree in English. The only Shakespeare where I would understand every line would be one I had recently studied.

maxelly · 09/12/2021 16:59

I'd say broadly speaking yes, you will follow the plot and what's going on, maybe not every single nuance or 'joke' (I put that in inverted commas as although I love Shakespeare personally I don't really find it very funny, Elizabethan humour flies over my head even when I 'get' the joke).

I would say though that it will probably enhance rather than take away from your enjoyment if you do a little bit of research beforehand, not saying you have to study for hours but just generally knowing the plot, what some of the key themes, ideas in the play are all about for me really helps. Each production will of course put their own slant on it but for me that's part of the fun...

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 09/12/2021 17:01

I love Shakespeare-studied it a bit as part of English at Uni-
I always read a synopsis of the pay before I go-even if it is one I have seen before.

Don't go in expecting to find it difficult-just throw yourself in to it and enjoy the acting.
A good production should be easy to follow!

Burnamer · 09/12/2021 17:02

Think of it like this - you can follow the story in a ballet and there are no words at all.
You’ll be surprised at how much you understand. Have a great time.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/12/2021 17:04

Depends on the play imo. The comedies in general are probably easier than the tragedies and watching a play is different to reading it.

Pippapet · 09/12/2021 17:04

I think it's a great idea to be familiar with the overall plot and main characters beforehand. That way, you can enjoy more of the details, humour etc without also trying to simultaneously work out what the heck is happening. I do the same for most films. I can't bear to watch a film without reading the synopsis first.

Gwenhwyfar · 09/12/2021 17:05

@Burnamer

Think of it like this - you can follow the story in a ballet and there are no words at all. You’ll be surprised at how much you understand. Have a great time.
I understand zero of an opera even with subtitles or sung in a language I understand so I'm not sure I believe that.
TooBigForMyBoots · 09/12/2021 17:05

Shakespeare isn't meant to be "read", it's meant to be performed. Read a synopsis or watch a film version before you go. You'll get more out of it.Smile

Gwenhwyfar · 09/12/2021 17:06

@Pippapet

I think it's a great idea to be familiar with the overall plot and main characters beforehand. That way, you can enjoy more of the details, humour etc without also trying to simultaneously work out what the heck is happening. I do the same for most films. I can't bear to watch a film without reading the synopsis first.
But doesn't that spoil it? I mean for Romeo and Juliet or Titanic it doesn't matter, but there would be no point watching The Girl on the Train if you've already read a summary.
Original poster
Nevertime · 09/12/2021 17:07

The Comedy of Errors Blush

OP posts:
Ylvamoon · 09/12/2021 17:07

I watched Hamlet as a teenager without having studied any Shakespeare. I still remember the play and how much i enjoyed it!

midsomermurderess · 09/12/2021 17:08

I think it can take a while to get your ear in as it were, to hear the language and start to understand it. Even if you don't get it all, you will be able to follow the general gist.

gogohm · 09/12/2021 17:10

It's a great play, very funny but ... it relies on word play so don't take someone whose hard of hearing!

My kids have been going to Stratford to see Shakespeare since they were 10. You don't need to highly educated to enjoy it.

oneglassandpuzzled · 09/12/2021 17:13

Shakespeare was enormously popular in remote parts of the US in the nineteenth century among communities where education wasn’t continued long after the early teens. If they like understand him, you will.

Have fun!

Blossom64265 · 09/12/2021 17:21

You don’t need to have studied the plays to understand them. It just takes a few minutes to shift into the slightly different language and then you start thinking that way. At least that is how it works for me.

It doesn’t hurt to read the one paragraph summary just to know the overarching plot. That rarely spoils the experience with a show of any type.

TeenMinusTests · 09/12/2021 17:24

A comedy of errors is good because it is about identical twins who have manservants who are also identical twins and everyone gets confused as to who is who. As PP said, very visual.
Generally I find it helps to have a general idea of who the characters are and general plot in advance, it makes it more enjoyable.

SolasAnla · 09/12/2021 17:25

You may miss some of the cultural nuance as some language, social class etc is different but over all humans don't change that much that you can't follow along and enjoy.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 09/12/2021 17:28

No one starts off educated and 'cultured'. Everyone has to encounter Shakespeare for the first time. I agree with pps that watching a play is a better introduction than trying to read the text.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 09/12/2021 17:28

Shakespeare didn’t write plays that only the educated aristocracy of his day saw, he wrote them to be performed in theatres attended by everyday people as well as the aristocracy

They were meant to appeal to the populace

Yes the language is archaic to us but You will be absolutely fine OP :)

MrsTophamHat · 09/12/2021 17:29

Yes, they're meant to be performed, not read like a novel. The actors will bring it to life.

Kayemm · 09/12/2021 17:30

Is it the RSC one? If so it's fabulous. We saw it in summer. You will be fine, just go with it.

Do you understand every word of a new pop song first time you hear it, or just love it 'because '? That may read as rubbish but I know what I mean Smile