A portrait recently came to light that experts say is the only portrait of Shakespeare painted during his lifetime, and so the only accurate depiction of how he really looked. As a friend who passed this story along observed, "Shakespeare was a babe!" I don't know if I'd go ...

Front page shocker in today's New York Times : William Shakespeare was a homosexual. Grizzled former war correspondent John F. Burns has unearthed the bombshell in the form of a very gay-looking portrait. The previously unkown painting comes from the private collection of "an aristocratic Anglo-Iris...

I'm still spending time with Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  I have another film versi on to watch (hopefully this evening), which was pro duced by the BBC and Ti me-Life Films.  I'll be curious to s ee if it follows the play more  closely than
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  Joaquin Phoenix's "final" acting performance has been getting rapturous reviews, especially from critics who actually believe his recent publicity stunts are real. One writer, however, noted that it would be impossible to watch Phoenix's Letterman appearance back-to-back wit...

Go on, lynch me. We went to see Othello at the weekend. The RSC production, not the Northern Broadsides one with Lenny Henry that's been in the news. It appears to have put Paul off Shakespeare for life. I, on the other hand, enjoyed it greatly. This was my first true Shakespeare experience. I've re...

I have of late, but wherefore I know not, been thinking about my old degrees with something akin to nostalgia. Plus, it's been a while since I wrote about Shakespeare. Any students out there: I forbid you from publishing or copying this little essay and handing it into your teacher as your own. A wh...

Charlie Rose speaks with Mickey Rourke at length about his storied career and The Wrestler's road to Oscar Arts Beat Joss Whedon on Dollhouse. It premieres tonight. Popnography Joss Whedon and the gays Slant is done with the director's branch in the Academy. They have been in free fall, haven't they...

Rarely has the divide between a tepid review and a riveting performance been so glaringly evident as in Peter Marks's review of the Folger Shakespeare Library's presentation of Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale" ["O 'Winter,' Where Is Thy Sting?" Style, Feb. 5]. It was a classic case of damning with fa...

I tremble before this assignment. Yes, I do. To write about love. Love is ethereal. Love is hard to put to words, even for one who claims to be able to write poetry. A quick review via Google search reveals this YouTube video with over 15 million views. The text is simple and repetitive: What is lov...

Wm. Shakespeare's Five and Twenty Random Things Abovt Me. 19 I work ovt my calues thrice weekly, usvally three pyramid sets of Calf-Rises whilst holding a flagon of Meade. I knowe I should stretch afterwards, but it Bores me so I do it not.(Via mcg.) blog advertising blog advertising...