#Padua Playwrights

[edpor68]

Happy Sunday! Most of the postings in this group are of 1970s Pattye and her television appearances. How about 1980s Pattye and her early theater days? Here are a few images- mostly from newspapers online… her plays and of course the Thanksgiving 1984 photo…. #pattyemattick #patriciamattick #1980s #plays #Reseda #adorable #GoneButWillNeverBeForgotten #California #paduaplaywrights

[gael-hightower]

Modern AU — Gael Hightower

GENERAL INFORMATION

NAME: Gael Hightower

AGE: Twenty-eight (Born September 2nd, 1996)

BORN IN: Padua, Italy

CURRENT RESIDENCE: London, England

OCCUPATION: Poet and playwright

ETHNICITY: White (English on his father's side and Italian/Turkish on his mother's side)

BACKGROUND

Born as the third son, Gael never had a particularly close relationship with his stern, demanding father and his self-absorbed mother. He was under the shadow of his eldest brother but that served as a safe space for Gael to not be minded too much, and begin to nurture his interest in the literary arts.

At school, he didn't like having too much attention on him. He was quiet and reserved, but kind.

In his last year of school, there was a bit of a shift in his demeanor, as he became a bit more outspoken and more openly defiant in his family. This was the time he discovered his father had a daughter from the woman he cheated on his mother with, and also had a clash with his eldest brother. Gael cut off connections with his family then, not wanting to be a part of that hypocritical, toxic environment.

He earned a full scholarship at Oxford for Language and Literature, and continued to get on on his own, with support from his cousin Lucrezia, Omer Florent and his good friend, Conall Blackbar.

Nowadays, he's recognized as one of the most promising voices in English literature, rising as a critically acclaimed poet and playwright who has already earned awards for his work.

He earned worldwide recognition when his most recent play was adapted for a film two years ago, with Gael working on the screenplay himself. He was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, winning the first two awards.

RELATIONSHIP HISTORY

Currently single.

He dated Aenogaia Qoherys little after finishing school. They ended up going their different ways and had an amicable breakup.

He had a passionate fling with Zialla Antaryon when he met her at an industry party in Hollywood. They ended up breaking up on a sour note, with their careers and expectations going in different directions.

[doqteqs]

Many claim that Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, is the true identity of both Shakespeare, and Shakespeare's Hamlet, but I'm here to assure you it's just a coincidence.

Scholars have noted the parallels between Polonius and William Cecil (Lord Burghley) and even how Burghley's daughter Anne, bears resemblance to the fair Ophelia. And sure, Oxford did grow up in Burghley's household, and marry his daughter, but it's just a coincidence.

Scholars believe Cardanus Comforte is the kind of book Hamlet would read, and sure, the 1571 translation of Cardanus Comforte was dedicated to Oxford, but it's just a coincidence.

Castiglioni's The Book of the Courtier is associated with both Hamlet and Shakespeare's idea of courtliness, and yes Oxford did write the Latin preface to the 1572 translation, but it's just a coincidence.

Shakespeare was immersed in Arthur Golding's English translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, and Arthur Golding was Oxford's uncle and both did live in Cecil House, but it's just a coincidence.

As you know, pirates attacked Hamlet in the English Channel, and pirates also attacked Oxford in the English Channel. And many sully upstarts like to point out that both were noblemen and courtiers, had mothers who remarried after their father's death, were spied upon by their fathers in law who were both councellors to the throne, were patrons and players and playwrights, had lovers accused of infidelity who died early, and were thought mad at court, but it's just a coincidence.

Scholars believe Shakespeare visited Italy due to his profound knowledge of the country, and Shakespeare does make references to Venice, Genoa, Milan, Padua, Florence, Varenna, Messina, and Sicily, and sure, Oxford visited all these places, but it's just a coincidence.

The English poet and grammatist John Lyly was a great influence on Shakespeare's comedy, and yes he was Oxford's secretary to whom he dedicated his "Euphues and his England", scholars also see ties between Shakespeare and playwright Anthony Munday, who worked for Oxford and dedicated several of his works to him, but it's just a coincidence.

Shakespeare dedicated his poem Venus and Adonis to Henry Wriothesley the Earl of Southampton, and sure Burghley did approach Southampton to marry Oxford's daughter Elizabeth, but it's JUST a coincidence!

The First Folio is dedicated to the brothers William and Philip the Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery, and Pembroke was in negotiations with Burghley to marry Oxford's daughter Bridget De Vere, well Montgomery actually did marry Oxford's daughter Susan de Vere, but it's just a coincidence!

We know Hamlet has a fanatical sense of truth and in one place Shakespeare says "truth is truth to the end of reckoning", but so what if Oxford uses a similar phrase in a private letter to Robert Cecil or that Oxford's latin motto can be translated as 'nothing truer than truth'? IT'S ALL JUST A DAMN COINCIDENCE!

[ear-worthy]

Play On Podcasts Performs Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew

Friends can fill many important roles in people's lives, such as support, companionship, enjoyment, and sharing feelings. One contribution a friend can make is to guide you to TV shows, movies, books, and podcasts that are worth your time. I'm still upset at my buddy Gene for recommending Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. 

As a counterpoint to Gene (who also recommended Velma and The Idol), a business acquaintance -- Andreea Coscai from Tink Media -- recomended Play On Podcasts. What you have to know about Andreea is that she's never been wrong about a podcast she's recommended to me. It's automatic now. If Andreea recommends it, I listen to it. Sure, maybe I'm not that interested in a podcast about 12th Century footwear fads. But if Andreea recommends it, I know it's ear worthy. 

 Andreea Coscai is a digital marketer and podcast producer passionate about multicultural investigative reporting. Her latest podcast is titled Who Holds Up Half the Sky. In 2020, she founded the first NGO that promotes leadership and networking for young women, Her Time Romania. She spent her childhood in Romania, lived in China for two years, and moved to the United States in 2018. The podcast she recommended, Play On Podcasts, is simply genius. It reimagines Shakespeare's timeless tales, featuring original musical compositions and the voices of extraordinarily gifted artists. It's remarkable that the podcast is superb in so many ways. The original music is delightful and enchanting. The acting bristles with emotive energy. The plays they re-enact are much more Laurence Olivier in Hamlet than Mel Gibson in Hamlet. The scripted plays facilitate Shakespearean humor, wit, and sarcasm to flow through them.

Most important of all, the plays are scripted in modern English verse for modern audiences. Therefore, the age-old excuse that you don't like Shakespeare because you can't understand the words has vanished. 

My first play on Play On was Othello, which began in September 2023. The play was broken up into seven episodes of about 35 minutes per episode. Then, Play On releases bonus content, typically with the playwright who reimagined the Shakespearean classic in modern verse or one of the actors. The October 13, 2023, bonus content of Othello with playwright Mfoniso Udofia was inspired, with Udofia explaining how to handle the conversion of words from old English to modern language, especially the racial epithets. 

Then, Play On released the full play of Othello in one episode, which lasted over three hours. Their current series, The Taming Of The Shrew was just released during in late May. 

 The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself. The Taming of the Shrew is largely about how to “correctly” or “incorrectly” be a man or a woman in society. The characters in the play equate masculinity with dominance, and femininity with subservience. In fact, the play has been adapted many times. Some of the most well-known adaptations include Cole Porter’s musical Kiss Me, Kate!; McLintock!, a western starring John Wayne, and the 1967 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Here's everything that happened in just the first episode, which is 27 minutes in length.

A student (and eligible bachelor) named Lucentio arrives in Padua with his servant, Tranio, to study philosophy. As they take in the sights they come across the wealthy Baptista and his two daughters, Bianca and Katherina. Bianca is trailed by two suitors, Hortensio and Gremio, who are vying for her affection. Baptista tells them that neither of them will win Bianca’s hand until he marries off his older daughter, Katherina. Meantime, Baptista will keep Bianca at home, seen only by the tutors who he employs to advance her education. Hortensio and Gremio scheme to find a husband for the contrary Katherina. Lucentio, smitten by the beautiful Bianca, hatches a plan with Tranio to gain access to Bianca’s house by changing clothes with his servant and posing as a tutor while Tranio pretends to be Lucentio in order to build Lucentio’s social profile and entertain his father’s guests. When Lucentio’s other servant, Biondello, arrives, Lucentio tells him that he and Tranio switched clothes because he killed a man and has to escape the city. He tasks Biondello with waiting on Tranio and instructs him to refer to Tranio as Lucentio. Elsewhere, the self-assured Petruchio, along with his servant, Grumio, arrives from Verona at his friend Hortensio’s house. Hortensio greets him warmly and learns from Petruchio that he’s come to Padua to find a wife from a wealthy family. Hortensio tells him about Baptista’s daughter, Katherina, but warns him about her ferocious temper. Petruchio is intrigued and vows to make Katherina his wife. Hortensio offers to facilitate the introduction provided Petruchio helps him pass for a music teacher so he can get access to Bianca.

In episode one of every play, Play On recommends that listeners use headphones or earbuds for the best listening experience. It's a recommendation I urge you to follow. The plays are rich in sounds that can captivate your ears. There is the dialogue -- crisp and understandable. The background sounds -- horses, wagons, merchants, nature -- can layer you into the play like being an avatar in a video game. The show has a voice and text consultant, an equipment and recording engineer, a sound effects assistant, and a production assistant. That's a lot of resources and a lot of money. As a listener, you hear that excellence.

 The music strikes at your emotions, ratcheting up intensity, fervor, and excitement. In Macbeth, the show even has a bagpipes' musician.

As I've mentioned before, acting in an audio only format is incredibly difficult. Facial expressions, body language, and physical movement become irrelevant in an audio only drama. These actors from Play On are masters manipulators of voice -- intonation, insinuation, and implication reign supreme in their audio realm. 

Play On podcasts began in April 2021 with Shakespeare's masterpiece Macbeth. It's a great play to begin with, and Play On's treatment of the classic is masterful. In my one and only foray into acting, I played Macduff in a high school play. I thought I was a solid Macduff. In Play on, an actor named Chinaza Uche played Macduff. Mr. Uche was a superlative Macduff, and I doff my hat to him. Here are their own words about Play On: "Welcome to the Play On Podcasts from Next Chapter Podcasts. This is where theater meets podcasts, combining the modern-day audio phenomenon with the power of live performance. Play On Podcasts is an epic audio adventure reimagining timeless tales, featuring original music compositions and the voices of extraordinarily gifted artists. Past seasons included Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Love Labor's Lost. 

Next Chapter is an independent podcast production house dedicated to original, authentic storytelling. Next Chapter proudly informs us: "We are a progressive organization looking to make the world a better place, and lift up marginalized communities through the spoken word. We are a team of producers and sound designers, engineers and artists with unique experience to excel in podcast production from concept to creation."

You can subscribe to Play On Premium to get exclusive access to ad-free episodes, full plays, merch, and hear full interviews with the artists, producers, and engineers who brought it all to life.

Check out Play On Podcasts. 

To paraphrase William Shakespeare, who once wrote in Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2, "Friends, podcast listeners, and Shakespeare fans, Lend me your ears and listen to Play On Podcasts."

[oscarwilde-scholar]

Film—Wilde in New York

A New Video Documentary by Erik Ryding From Quill Classics comes a new full length video documentary written and directed by Erik Ryding: Wilde in New York. Although Oscar Wilde is mostly associated with London at his zenith as a playwright, New York City also deserves a special place in his history. It was in New York, in fact, that his first two plays—Vera and The Duchess of Padua—had their…

[ofgraveconcern]

20th May 1533 or 1537, birth of pioneering anatomist, surgeon, and "The Father of Embryology”, Hieronymus Fabricius. Causing a revolution in anatomical teaching he designed the first theatre for public anatomical dissections in 1594. Fabricus also designed an orthopedic exoskeleton he called the ‘Oplomoclion’. One of his students was the English physician William Harvey, the first known physician to completely map systemic circulation, and describe in detail the properties of blood pumped to the brain and the rest of the body by the heart. Fabricius died on May the 21st 1619 in Padua, Italy. 23rd May 1718, birth of Scottish anatomist and physician William Hunter, a leading teacher of anatomy. His brother John is also known to history as a prolific surgeon, and teacher and collaborator of Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine. In 1768 John Hunter built the famous anatomy theatre and museum in Great Windmill Street, Soho, London. Figures of medical controversy, John Hunter is alleged to have paid for the stolen body of Charles Byrne, "The Irish Giant", who against the wishes of Byrne’s family displayed and studied the skeleton. He also studied and displayed the corpses of executed criminals. Another controversy was suggested In 2010, when it was claimed that the Hunters obtained pregnant women for anatomical study by paying for their murders. The claims however were heavily criticized and dismissed by medical historians. John and William Hunter were the Uncle to Romantic poet and playwright Joanna Baillie, named the ‘female Shakespeare’, by her friend, the poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott. With an interest in philosophy and the Gothic, (continued in the comments). #anatomicalart #anatomicalillustration #historyofanatomy #anatomical #anatomytheatre #bodysnatching #darkhistory #anatomy #anatomydrawing #johnhunter #williamhunter #joannabaillie #gothichistory #gothictales #weirdhistory #oddhistory #anatomicalart #darktarot #burkeandhare #tarotillustration #tarotart #tarotartist #regencygothic #resurrectionmen #historicalstories #historyofscience #macabretales #macabrehistory #macabreart #gothicstyle https://www.instagram.com/p/CPQxJbonI3c/?utm_medium=tumblr

[juleswolverton-hyde]

Shakespeare in Wonderland: Shakespeare’s Green World in Down the Rabbit Hole

Ho there, good reader,

That is definitely too old-fashioned a greeting, is it not? Regardless, it is perchance quite suitable as a start to this post with an awfully long title. Yet, it is the type of titles students create on the regular to name essays and research papers which are, unfortunately, not always as interesting as analyzing one’s own subject of preference. In truth, of course, there are interesting essays out there although the genre is not pleasing to each individual to write for and read. Notwithstanding, thanks to Michel de Montaigne, students are succumbed to writing within the dreary genre.

Withal, this essay is written of one’s own willing accord for the Shakespeare expert at my university has unconsciously affirmed yours truly might create stories in a more Shakespearean manner than originally thought. Certainly, it is now understood better why some people compare me to the great playwright and also why I identify as a classicist.

This week and the next the discussion is centred around the play As You Like It by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare is known to use the phenomenon known as ‘’the Green World’’, a pastoral setting wherein the problems of the city or court have no influence. The world is often depicted as lush with nature, animals living in harmony, fairytale-like, an idyllic setting wherein one can discover and develop themselves although the progress is often looked back at once the character is about to return to the city or court. This alternative reality is depicted in the play as The Forest of Arden (a mixture between France and England) but there are plenty occurrences of this middle world in Shakespeare’s repertoire. In The Merchant of Venice, there is Belmont serving as the alternative reality to Venice. Furthermore, there is Cyprus (the alternative to Venice in Othello), Bohemia (the reality being Sicily in The Winter’s Tale), Cotswolds and the countryside (as an alternative to Padua in The Taming of the Shrew), the forest outside Athens (Athens being the modern city in A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Prospero’s Island in The Tempest. In sum, the Green World is the stage to stage an ideal life upon and is oft inspired by real places which have served as its concept.

Unconsciously, this phenomenon has found its way into Down the Rabbit Hole, the tragic-romantic story about The White Rabbit and The Cheshire Cat. Upon a closer look, five locations can be pinpointed as the Green World: ‘’The Bookworm’’, ‘’Golden Hare Books’’ (chapter 5), Seokjin’s mochi cafe (same chapter as well as The Heartbeat of March), the hallway to Cheshire’s apartment (The Heartbeat of March), the apartment itself and the Internet. All these locations have served in the development of characters and relationships among them, not all of them being positive yet progress nonetheless. Moreover, social and educational problems are shut out for Cheshire accepts Jungkook for who he is (or does she?), love blossoms in the caffeinated air filled with jazzy tunes and personal comfort zones are stepped out of. These are the stages upon which the characters feed their own imagination and play their roles.

Their realistic counterparts are the unnamed city, the back of ‘’The Bookworm’’ (The Caterpillar’s Philosophy, (yet to be written thus obscure in reference)) and Jungkook’s apartment, the place where the degree of loneliness and chances of unrequited love dawn on a young mind fallen into perversity. The same sin that Eve has brought into the world by eating from the Tree of Knowledge. Religious imagery, however, is a totally different subject to write on as well as other intertextual allusions like the multitude of references to Plato’s cave allegory and (lyrical) poetry.

The city in Down the Rabbit Hole is inspired by Harlem and Utrecht in The Netherlands alongside Camden Lock in London, the district you are like to find a wee Raven when she visits the metropolitan cyclops that has shaped great names like Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, William Blake and Mary Shelley. Those are the obvious traces although Edinburgh and Dublin might have left their footprints in other literary places like Cork might soon be able to do too. Another example that springs to mind is the hidden role of Bute Park, situated in Cardiff, in the Castle on the Hill Trilogy (part 1). Regardless, the towns and environments used in the tales and especially blatantly so in Down the Rabbit Hole, all stem from real locations visited while travelling or found on Pinterest. They each have served as an initial concept to work with and eventually have come to collaborate with the conversations had with friends and music to create unique realities for the author and reader to enjoy.

Creating new paths to various green worlds.

A new stage to be a mere player on.

[your-fave-is-catholic]

Your Fave Is Catholic: Oscar Wilde

Known for: Beloved Irish author, poet, & playwright, he is considered by many to be one of the great writers of the English language, both during his time & even to this day. As one of the advocates for the style of aestheticism, he has written a very large body of work. Some of his most famous works include The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Canterville Ghost, The Nightingale & the Rose, The Selfish Giant, De Profundis, The Portrait of Mr. W.H., The Happy Prince, The Devoted Friend, Poems in Prose, An Ideal Husband, Salomé, The Duchess of Padua, A House of Pomegranates, & many many more things ranging from poetry to essays. Despite being loved dearly in his day, he was also a very controversial figure, & has been imprisoned a number of times during his life, whether it be for his sexuality or for libel against royalty. Despite this, he was still a master of his craft!

Evidence of Faith: For most of his life, Oscar was actually Anglican. He converted to Catholicism much later in his life, but even still seeds of Catholic faith began planting themselves during his life. According to Richard Ellman’s biography on Oscar Wilde, Oscar deeply considered converting to Catholicism during his life, even discussing it with clergymen. He was especially speechless after having an audience with Pope Pius IX when visiting Rome. C. George Sandulescu’s biography Rediscovering Oscar Wilde also confirms this, stating that Oscar had a great & lifelong interest in Catholic liturgy & theology. According also to the written works of Merlin Holland regarding Oscar Wilde, he states that after being released from prison, Oscar requested to attend a six month Catholic retreat with the Society of Jesus. Sadly, his request was denied, & he was greatly saddened by this. Still, he made it a goal of become Catholic before it was too late. Thankfully, he got his wish just in time. Merlin Holland also mentioned in his works that when he was close to dying of meningitis, Oscar was baptized Catholic by Fr. Cuthbert Dunne, & also went on to give Oscar his Last Sacraments before entering the Kingdom of God.

[catholicartistsnyc]

COVID-19: Catholic Artist Connection Help Guide

Know of our prayers for all our artists during this time. Here are some resources to help you get on your feet. This guide will be updated. Please email us at catholicartistconnection@gmail.com if you have information to share. 

Financial

Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund

This fund is for US-based BIPOC artists and administrators. This is a ONE-TIME micro grant of $200.

If you are interested in donating to the fund

This information will be kept confidential. If you have documents that you would like to attach to your application, please email them to emergencyfund@aacdmv.org.

Springboard for the Arts

Springboard for the Arts offers serious emergency assistance for artists, theatre personnel, and performers who will be out of work during this time or may be experiencing financial hardship in some way. Check out their site for information and to see your options.  Resources for Freelancers

SAG-AFTRA Foundation Disaster Relief 

From the website:

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation and the SAG-AFTRA Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund (MPPWF) have created the COVID-19 Disaster Fund that is now available to eligible SAG-AFTRA members who have been impacted by this pandemic.

All applications for Emergency Financial Assistance will go to the COVID-19 Disaster Fund. We’ve streamlined our assistance programs into this one fund to expedite resources and services.

SAG-AFTRA members are eligible to apply to the Fund if they are currently active and paid up on their dues through October 2019.

The Fund covers members who are in an emergency financial crisis related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to cover basic expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, medical bills and other essential needs.

Creative Capital’s List of Arts Resources

Hebrew Free Loan Society - you do not need to be Jewish in order to apply

Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund - for artists of color

Americans for the Arts Resource List 

Artist Relief 

Playwrights Horizons is hosting a free Financial Therapy session on Zoom with Ari Teplitz, CFP, on Thursday, March 26 at 4 PM. Sign up here!

IF YOU’D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE: The Indie Theater Fund is launching a fundraising campaign to provide direct support and emergency relief to independent theaters and artists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Google Doc of further resources + Another Google Doc

Virtual Co-Working with Artists! - Perfect if you’re having trouble getting work done and need a little structure and routine in your life right now. 

Medical

CDC’s Official Website

Rauschenberg Foundation Is Launching Emergency Medical Grants for Artists Who Need Help Paying for Healthcare.

Spiritual

Godsplaining: the podcast is inviting you to do lectio with the Dominican Friars.

Dominican Friars: spiritual resources

Spiritual resources for quarantine from The Merry Beggars

Fr. James Martin, SJ, is doing a Daily Faith Sharing at 3 PM ET on Facebook Live for the foreseeable future: https://www.facebook.com/FrJamesMartin/

Watch the Pope Say Mass privately at the Vatican EVERY DAY with translations in English by a Daughter of St. Paul. 

St. Patrick’s Cathedral NYC livestream of private daily mass 

Pray the examen live with the Jesuits 

A Meditation for the Anxious 

ArchNY Churches Livestreaming the Mass

List provided courtesy of CatholicNYC - subscribe to their newsletter!

Manhattan St. Patrick's Cathedral Basilica of Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral Church of the Epiphany Church of the Good Shepherd Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Church of Our lady of Sorrows Church of St. Agnes Church of St. Charles Borromeo Church of St. John Nepomucene (English) Church of St. John Nepomucene (Slovak) Church of St. Mark the Evangelist Church of St. Mary (Byzantine) Church of St. Monica - St. Elizabeth of Hungary - St. Stephen Church of St. Paul the Apostle Church of St. Vincent Ferrer - St. Catherine of Siena Bronx Church of the Holy Cross Church of St. Anthony of Padua Dutchess Church of St. Columba Church of St. John - St. Joachim Church of St. John the Evangelist - St. Charles Borromeo Church of St. Joseph Church of St. Mary Orange Church of the Holy Cross Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church of St. Mary Church of St. Stephen Church of St. Teresa of Calcutta Putnam Church of St. Lawrence O'Toole Rockland Marian Shrine & Don Bosco Retreat Center Church of St. Aedan Church of St. Anthony of Padua Staten Island Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church of St. Clare Church of St. Joseph - St. Mary Immaculate Sullivan Church of St. Anthony Church of St. Peter Westchester Church of the Annunciation - Our Lady of Fatima Church of the Assumption Church of the Holy Name Church of St. Ann Church of St. Columbanus Church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church of St. Patrick Church of St. Peter

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

LGBTQIA Historical Romances with Scholars, Booksellers, Playwrights, Bluestockings, and Journalists - Updated June 19, 2018

The Shakespeare Company by Ted Bacino

- How could Christopher Marlowe, a known spy and England’s foremost playwright, be suspiciously murdered and quickly buried in an unmarked grave just days before he was to be tried for treason? How could William Shakespeare, an unknown actor who “held horses for the gentry while they watched the plays,” become England’s star playwright virtually overnight? As Marlowe and his sponsor/lover, Sir Thomas Walsingham realize that the sentence for heresy is always death by being “drawn and quartered.” So they fake Marlowe’s murder and arrange for an unknown actor to front the new works by Marlowe.

Quickly the crown becomes suspicious of Marlowe’s mysterious murder and the similarities of his works with those of Shakespeare’s. (There are actually more than 100 identical or similar lines in the works of the two authors.) A manhunt begins with Marlowe being chased from city after city in Italy. He flees the Venetian city just as he finishes “The Merchant of Venice” and “Othello.” He runs from Padua as he writes “The Taming of the Shrew” and he must leave Verona after a close call while he tries to finish “Romeo and Juliet” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona.” The chase continues to Rome and Sicily where Marlowe in finally cornered.

Meanwhile back in London, Shakespeare is trying to hide from the investigations of Constable Maunder and defend his writing of plays he’s never read. And the homoerotic references in the recent works plague Shakespeare with his drinking buddies, his concubines and his wife. The whole chase culminates in a final confrontation of excitement and murder.

All the historical facts presented in the book and play are accurate. Yes, it was made into a play!

Unfit to Print by KJ Charles (July 10, 2018) Review

- When crusading lawyer Vikram Pandey sets out in search of a missing youth, his investigations take him to Holywell Street, London’s most notorious address. He expects to find a disgraceful array of sordid bookshops. He doesn’t expect one of them to be run by the long-lost friend whose disappearance and presumed death he’s been mourning for thirteen years. Gil Lawless became a Holywell Street bookseller for his own reasons, and he’s damned if he’s going to apologise or listen to moralising from anyone. Not even Vikram; not even if the once-beloved boy has grown into a man who makes his mouth water. Now the upright lawyer and the illicit bookseller need to work together to track down the missing youth. And on the way, they may even learn if there’s more than just memory and old affection binding them together…

A Seditious Affair by KJ Charles (Installment 3 of the SoG series) Review (One of my favorite novels in this genre. Dominic is a cinnamon roll, but also quite impressive when it needs to be. Book one actually starts the bookshop content, but this novel contains philosophy on Blake and M. Shelley.)

- Silas Mason has no illusions about himself. He’s not lovable, or even likable. He’s an overbearing idealist, a Radical bookseller and pamphleteer who lives for revolution … and for Wednesday nights. Every week he meets anonymously with the same man, in whom Silas has discovered the ideal meld of intellectual companionship and absolute obedience to his sexual commands. But unbeknownst to Silas, his closest friend is also his greatest enemy, with the power to see him hanged—or spare his life.   A loyal, well-born gentleman official, Dominic Frey is torn apart by his affair with Silas. By the light of day, he cannot fathom the intoxicating lust that drives him to meet with the Radical week after week. In the bedroom, everything else falls away. Their needs match, and they are united by sympathy for each other’s deepest vulnerabilities. But when Silas’s politics earn him a death sentence, desire clashes with duty, and Dominic finds himself doing everything he can to save the man who stole his heart. (pansexual MC, wonderful D/s dynamic)

An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles (Book 2 of the SotC series) Review (Enemies to lovers to family. Just a fantastic read.)

- In the sordid streets of Victorian London, unwanted desire flares between two bitter enemies. Crusading journalist Nathaniel Roy is determined to expose spiritualists who exploit the grief of bereaved and vulnerable people. First on his list is the so-called Seer of London, Justin Lazarus. Nathaniel expects him to be a cheap, heartless fraud. He doesn’t expect to meet a man with a sinful smile and the eyes of a fallen angel—or that a shameless swindler will spark his desires for the first time in years.

Justin feels no remorse for the lies he spins during his séances. His gullible clients simply bore him. Hostile, disbelieving, utterly irresistible Nathaniel is a fascinating challenge. And as their battle of wills and wits heats up, Justin finds he can’t stop thinking about the man who’s determined to ruin him.

But Justin and Nathaniel are linked by more than their fast-growing obsession with one another. They are both caught up in an aristocratic family’s secrets, and Justin holds information that could be lethal. As killers, fanatics, and fog close in, Nathaniel is the only man Justin can trust—and, perhaps, the only man he could love.

Wanted, A Gentleman by KJ Charles (Review pending. This one involves a journalist, but there is also a twist.)

- Theodore Swann is a jobbing writer, proprietor of the Matrimonial Advertiser lonely hearts gazette, and all-round weasel. He’s the very last man that Martin St. Vincent would choose to rely on—and the only one who can help. Martin is a wealthy merchant who finds himself obliged to put a stop to a young heiress’s romantic correspondence in the Matrimonial Advertiser. When she and her swain make a dash for Gretna Green, Martin drags Theo on a breakneck chase up the country to catch the runaway lovers before it’s too late. Theo guards his secrets. Martin guards his heart. But as the two of them are thrown irresistibly together, entanglements, deceptions, and revelations come thick and fast…

The Professor’s Assistant by Bren Christopher (Time travel steampunk)

- Lured by rumors of a momentous invention, Agent Julian Blake steps into the New York Gate and emerges outside London. It is the same year, 1885, but an earth parallel to his own. The two timelines are almost identical, but the slight variation is enough to threaten his mission as it includes an attitude toward same-sex attraction that is less than accepting. He never expected that difference to pose a problem. Julian has an important mission to complete–a mission with far-reaching consequences not only across the alternate earths, but into their pasts. For the momentous invention is a working time machine. And the inventor’s assistant is a beautiful, auburn-haired young man named Daniel who causes Julian to disregard the Department rules he has lived by for so long. But there are others interested in the professor’s new invention, and when tragedy strikes, the professor’s lovely assistant might just be the only person left with the knowledge to recreate the device. Now Daniel is a target, and Julian is in a race to protect him and retrieve the knowledge of the time machine from those who would misuse it.

Penn’s Woodland by David Connor (Review pending, but let me just say…strange. Not bad, but strange. Circa 1950′s? Southern US)

- Years ago, Penn’s lover was attacked in the woods, and most think Penn is to blame—including Penn. Ever since, he’s been a prisoner in his home and his mind. When world renowned architect Ewan Parish arrives to construct a secure, enclosed walkway through those woods, Penn is surprised, suspicious, and also fearful. Ewan finds himself intrigued by the mysterious, reclusive Penn, his journals, and the beautiful artwork he’s drawn, which Ewan recreates in the walkway’s iron scrollwork. Determined to free Penn, Ewan sets out to unravel the mystery that has resulted in Penn’s imprisonment by his family and conscience all these years…

Merrick by Claire Cray (Reviewing pending, paranormal, lovely world-building and resumes in second novel)

- New York, 1799: the future looks bright for the charming young book dealer William Lacy, until a raucous night of drinking lands him in shackles. He narrowly avoids the brutal prison system thanks to his mother, who negotiates with the judge to secure him a five year apprenticeship in lieu of a prison sentence. And so William finds himself in a carriage bound for the remote woods upstate, where he’ll spend the next years of his life learning a new trade under some old master. When he first sees Merrick, William thinks he’s been dropped into a medieval horror story. Tall and gruff, dressed in a hooded robe that completely conceals his features, and riding a black mare, Merrick might as well be the Grim Reaper. But appearances are deceiving. A skilled apothecary and healer, Merrick proves to be a generous host and a gentle teacher, and William soon finds himself surprisingly comfortable in his new surroundings. And yet troubling mysteries abound: Why does Merrick never show his face or hands? Why do his movements seem so young and sure beneath his robes? What lies within the cave behind the stone cottage? Something unnatural is afoot. But most alarming by far is William’s own reaction to his new keeper. For Merrick’s strange charms are bewitching enough by day; but by night, in the darkness of the room and the bed they share, William finds himself entirely overwhelmed by desires he never imagined…

A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan Review

- To seal their bond, they must break the ties that bind. Painfully introverted and rendered nearly mute by a heavy stammer, Lord George Albert Westin rarely ventures any farther than the club or his beloved gardens. When he hears rumors of an exotic new orchid sighted at a local hobbyist’s house, though, he girds himself with opiates and determination to attend a house party, hoping to sneak a peek. He finds the orchid, yes…but he finds something else even more rare and exquisite: Michael Vallant. Professional sodomite. Michael climbed out of an adolescent hell as a courtesan’s bastard to become successful and independent-minded, seeing men on his own terms, protected by a powerful friend. He is master of his own world—until Wes. Not only because, for once, the sex is for pleasure and not for profit. They are joined by tendrils of a shameful, unspoken history. The closer his shy, poppy-addicted lover lures him to the light of love, the harder his past works to drag him back into the dark. There’s only one way out of this tangle. Help Wes face the fears that cripple him—right after Michael finds the courage to reveal the devastating truth that binds them.

The Tutor by Bonnie Dee

- Gothic romance with a twist. Elements of The Sound of Music, The Enchanted Garden, Jane Eyre, and “true” ghost hunting shows make this story feel familiar. Gay love makes it unique. Seeing an ad for a position at a Yorkshire estate, typesetter Graham Cowrie decides to make an upward career move by passing himself off as a tutor. How hard can it be to teach a few subjects to a pair of nine-year-old boys? But on his arrival at the ancient house, he finds the staff creepy, the twins odd, and the widowed master temporarily absent. His first meeting with brooding, stern, but oh-so-attractive, Sir Richard doesn’t go well, but with no other prospects vying for the teaching position, Graham manages to keep it. His mission soon becomes clear, break down the walls of reserve both father and sons have erected and attempt to bridge the gap between them. But strange sounds, sights and experiences keep Graham on edge until he finally admits the Hall is haunted by two entities with very different agendas. Graham works to appease one and combat the other while protecting the broken family he’s grown to care for.

Seducing Stephen by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon (Review pending, quite a good rake vs ingenue novel, with the former learning some lessons from the student.)

- Visiting a wealthy friend during university holiday, Stephen wakes to find his bed invaded by a late arriving, drunken houseguest stumbling into the wrong room. From this dubious beginning, a romance slowly develops. At first Lord Peter Northrup is only interested in the young man as a lusty diversion. He tutors him in secret pleasures shared by men like them, intending to keep their special liaison brief, light, and temporary. But after Northrup leaves, he can’t forget the young man who managed to touch his jaded heart. During their time apart, Peter and Stephen change, and when they meet again, their affair flames hotter than ever. Can a peer of the realm and a middle-class young man bearing heavy responsibilities maintain a lasting relationship? Will Peter accept the possibility of true love in his shallow life, and will Stephen risk everything and trust a man who’s already hurt him once?

The Gentleman’s Madness by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon

- Two men imprisoned. One in body, the other in mind. Caught in the throes of passion with another man, scholar John Gilliam agrees to asylum treatment for perversion at the request of his worried parents. He intends to fake a cure then return to his normal life, but an attack on his person leads him down a darker path. Transferred to another facility, he is denied any devices by which he might harm himself—even books and writing materials. Half crazed by isolation John finds an unexpected friend in his caretaker, Sam Tully. Tully feels sorry for the patient everyone calls “the professor,” but he must keep his head down and perform his duties. His family relies on his earnings. He refuses to acknowledge the stirring of excitement inside him every time he is in Gilliam’s presence. Thirst for the knowledge the scholar offers wars with the carnal hunger he must deny. In John’s small cell, learning and mental freedom blossom as the two forge a friendship. Forbidden attraction evolves into physical action. But in the asylum there is more than curative treatment taking place. The pair uncover a terrible secret and must fight not only for their freedom but their very lives.

Frost Fair by Erastes

- Gideon Frost is willing to do whatever it takes to earn enough money to save the printing shop that was left to him by his father. But when faced with the prospect of having to engage in acts society deems unnatural and the law declares punishable by death, he realized there are limits as to how far he'll go. Then he meets the privileged and handsome Joshua Redfern, the one man who tempts Gideon to break his own rules. Joshua Redfern has no title or important relations, but his independent fortune allows him a life that is more than comfortable. And more importantly, it enables him to offer assistance to the unfortunate but beautiful Gideon just when the man needs it most. Joshua realizes his interest in Gideon is far more than charitable, but is the man similarly attracted or merely indebted? When the Thames freezes over and London hosts the great Frost Fair of 1814, trouble and necessity bring Gideon and Joshua together. But just as ice is destined to eventually crack, will the circumstances break these two men as they learn that life isn't always fair?

Sweet William by Dianne Hartsock

- William Wilkerson leads the life of the privileged rich. Head of his father’s shipping business, he indulges to his heart’s content in the pleasures of the flesh with Boston’s finest young men. That is, until he reunites with Fredrick: his former tutor and the one man who captured his heart. But William’s father has declared Fredrick off limits. And Fredrick, himself, believes he’s beneath the attention of the Wilkerson heir. After having lost his current pupil to graduation, and with no prospects of a replacement, Frederick is homeless, hungry, and easy pickings for the men on the docks. When Frederick is shanghaied into service on William’s own merchant ship, will William discover his plight in time to rescue him?

Whyborne and Griffin series by Jordan L Hawk (Fave, fave, fave)

- Widdershins: Book One: A reclusive scholar. A private detective. And a book of spells that could destroy the world. When handsome ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty approaches Dr. Percival Endicott Whyborne to translate a mysterious book, Whyborne wants to finish the job and get rid of Griffin as quickly as possible. Instead, he’s drawn into the hunt for a merciless cult bent on resurrecting an evil necromancer from the dead…and finds himself falling in love with the impertinent detective. But will Griffin’s secrets cost Whyborne not only his heart but his life?

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzie Lee (aro/ace female MC)

- A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.

In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.

Purgatory & Salvation novels by Jeff Mann (Have not read, but tw: extreme violence)

- During the Civil War, two young soldiers on opposite sides find themselves drawn together. One is a scholarly, war-weary Southerner who has seen too much bloodshed, especially the tortures inflicted upon the enemy by his vicious commanding officer, his uncle. The other is a Herculean Yankee captured by the ragtag Confederate band and forced to become a martyr for all the sins of General Sheridan’s fires. When these two find themselves admiring more than one another’s spirit and demeanor, when passions erupt between captor and captive, will this new romance survive the arduous trek to Purgatory Mountain?

- The American Civil War still threatens to tear the nation in twain. Private Ian Campbell betrayed his company and his duty because he fell in love with a handsome Yankee prisoner-of-war, Drew Conrad. Both men are on the run, desperate to reach Campbell’s family home in West Virginia, which may have escaped the conflict unscathed and may offer them both peace and salvation from the cruelties and hatreds heightened by the war. But the trek is dangerous. Both men are wounded, deserters, and their love for each other is viewed by so many as a crime against nature—hanging for any of these offenses threatens every moment they tarry to rest. They must rely on the kindness of strangers, but every household they enter seeking sanctuary for even a single night on a bed and scant provisions for hungry stomachs might betray them should the truth be discovered. Acclaimed author Jeff Mann’s sequel to his beloved historical novel Purgatory will instill in readers an ardent expectation over Privates Campbell and Conrad’s fate.  Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Romance!

Bound to Him and Bound Forever (Books two and three of the Bound series) by Ava March (Review pending, but this series is excellent. It begins with Oliver paying a madame to allow him to take the place of one of her employees, so he can have just one night with the man he loves. Contains BDSM)

- Lord Oliver Marsden’s life is perfect…well, almost perfect. His bookshop is doing well, his bank account isn’t empty, and his nights are filled with a deliciously dominant man…who tends to be a bit too domineering outside of the bedchamber. But Vincent loves him, and that’s all that should matter. Right? And of course Vincent still firmly holds the reins of control. Yet while Oliver feels Vincent is finally ready to give himself fully to him, to make good on the offer Oliver refused a year ago, the looming threat that his lover could someday be forced to marry keeps him from tugging the reins from Vincent’s grasp.

Then Vincent receives a letter that changes everything. Oliver seizes the moment and pushes Vincent toward a night neither of them will ever forget. Yet come dawn, Oliver awakens to an empty bed. Lord Vincent Prescot knows he loves Oliver. The man’s his best friend, and he trusts him. So why does submitting to Oliver leave him so shaken? It doesn’t take him long to find the answer, yet his solution could drive his lover away for good.

The Mistletoe Kiss by Ruby Moone (Review pending, but I loved this book. Most of it actually takes place within the bookshop owned by Fenton, so it’s a nice setting with a family-feeling.)

- By 1816, widowed bookseller Lawrence Fenton has spent a lonely lifetime hiding who he is. He has convinced himself his feelings for his far too young, gorgeous, but troubled assistant Christy Shaw are nothing more than pride in his protégé and concern for his plight. Christy’s life involves walking fine lines: one between his mother and his abusive stepfather, one where he must keep his needs hidden, and hardest of all, one where he must keep his feelings for his serious employer to himself. Lame since birth, Lawrence cannot imagine anyone wanting him, least of all Christy. But when Christy’s life threatens to spiral out of control, Lawrence steps in. Then Christy’s emotions spill over into a kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas. Will Lawrence be able to face the long-buried truth about himself and keep Christy by his side?

The Wrong Kind of Angel by Ruby Moone (Reviewing pending, but I’ve read this novella/prequel six times.)

- A reluctant angel, three not terribly wise men, two gorgeous men on a starlit chase to find a child … It can only be Christmas. It’s Christmas 1817 and Captain Charles Farrington has accepted that he is destined to live alone. That is, until Christmas Eve, when a startlingly handsome man crashes into his home and his life. Harry Valentine is a man on the run. A man with secrets. He hasn’t time to fall for the angel who rescued him and, in any case, he knows that once Charlie realises the truth about him, there will be no future for them. Harry’s warmth makes Charles face up to the demons in his past and shows him that he can have a family. All he has to do is persuade Harry to stay. But Charlie knows that, despite whatever Harry says, he’s the wrong kind of angel for happy endings.

The Master of Seacliff by Max Pierce (Review pending, but I had mixed impressions of this novel.)

- It is 1899, and young Andrew Wyndham has accepted a position tutoring the unruly son of wealthy industrialist Duncan Stewart in the hopes that the work will be brief yet provide an avenue to pay for his passage to France to study art. But Seacliff is a dark mansion enshrouded in near-eternal fog, dark mystery and suspicion—perhaps a reflection of the house’s brooding master. An imposing Blackbeard of a man, Duncan Stewart is both feared and admired by his business associates as well as the people he calls friends, for Stewart may have murdered his own father to gain control of his business. And his home, in which Andrew Wyndham must now reside, holds terrible secrets—secrets that could destroy everyone within its walls. For pure gothic escapism with a decidedly masculine point of view, The Master of Seacliff is an enthralling and satisfying read.

Fagin’s Boy: The Further Particulars of a Parish Boy’s Progress (Oliver & Jack Book 1)  by Christina Pilz

- Oliver Twist has one desire: to own a bookshop and live a simple, middle-class life as far as possible from his workhouse-shadowed past. One thing stands in his way: Jack Dawkins–The Artful Dodger–who’s just returned to London and is seeking Fagin’s old gang. Jack’s visits cause Oliver nothing but trouble, but he finds himself drawn, time and again, to their shared past, Jack’s unguarded honesty, and those bright, green eyes. Oliver craves respectability, and doesn’t think he will find it with a forbidden love. Can Jack convince Oliver that having one doesn’t mean losing the other? Fagin’s Boy is the first book in Christina E. Pilz’s Oliver & Jack series, a gay historical romance. If you like Dickensian tragedy, suspense, crime, poverty, and hope, as well as a slow-burn forbidden romance, then you’ll love Fagin’s Boy: The Further Particulars of a Parish Boy’s Progress.

The Blue Ribbon by Katherine Marlowe Review (I will say that most of Marlowe’s novels do not entail much period-typical homophobia, if any at all.)

- Theo Aylmer’s perfectly satisfactory life as a chemistry professor at Cambridge is upended when he receives word of his father’s illness. Forced to return to Cornwall, he is robbed for everything he’s worth by a dashing young highwayman. When he finally reaches his father’s stagecoach inn, he finds it dilapidated and the village around it groaning beneath the thumb of the hateful Earl of Glynn. All Theo wants to do is return to his life and work in Cambridge, but as he tries to recoup the funds necessary to travel, he finds himself plagued by brandy-smugglers and rumours of ghosts. And at the center of all Theo’s problems is a certain handsome highwayman who has charmed his way into Theo’s bed and heart. When the highwayman turns up shot, Theo can’t turn him away, even though doing so risks bringing the wrath of the customs men, the law, and the Earl of Glynn upon them both.

Protection by S.A. Reid

- When Gabriel MacKenna enters Wentworth Prison in 1931, he promises himself two things: never to be buggered and never to turn prison queer. Tough, smart, and ruthless in a fight, he quickly makes a name for himself inside. But Gabriel, saved from the noose by a social crusader, is serving two life sentences. And life is a very long time to endure Wentworth with no comforts but prison food, card games and cigarettes. To survive endless days without the touch of another human being… Five years after Gabriel’s incarceration, Joey Cooper arrives at Wentworth. Every convict claims imprisonment through a miscarriage of justice, but Joey is truly blameless. Trained at Oxford as a physician, the young doctor is innocent of prison culture and too handsome for his own good. Facing eighteen years behind Wentworth’s towering gates, Joey cannot hope to survive without protection. And protection is just what Gabriel MacKenna offers. At a price…

Adrian’s Librarian by Hollis Shiloh

- One night at a masquerade party, rakish Adrian Knowles kisses the wrong man by mistake and meets Oliver Windham. Feisty yet wary and broken, Ollie desperately needs a friend. Almost against his will, Adrian finds himself playing the hero… and falling in love.Adrian hires Ollie to set his library to rights—after having his servants put all the books out of order. He promises himself he’ll treat Ollie only as a friend, but Ollie quickly becomes the only man he wants.

Eden Springs by Ada Maria Soto

- In the boomtown of Eden Springs, someone is spilling the blood of children. Desperate, the sheriff calls in ex-Union scout Aaron Byrne to stop them. For the lawman for hire, it’s just another job-until he meets Jonah Mann, the town’s Oxford-trained astronomer-cum-schoolteacher. Aaron never stays in one place for long, but a few stolen glances from the eccentric professor begin to test his resolve to move along once the job is done. Now a telescope, a whorehouse bathtub, and a cup of Chinese tea could change Aaron’s own stars forever. A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.

A Light Amongst Shadows (Dark is the Night series Book 1) by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood Review

- James Spencer is hardly the typical troubled youth who ends up at Whisperwood School for Boys. Instead of hating the strict schedules and tight oversight by staff, James blossoms, quickly making friends, indulging in his love of writing, and contemplating the merits of sneaking love poems to the elusive and aloof William Esher. The rumours about William’s sexuality and opium reliance are prime gossip material amongst the third years…rumours that only further pique James’ curiosity to uncover what William is really like beneath all that emotional armor. And, when the normally collected William stumbles in one night, shaken and ranting of ghosts, James is the only one who believes him. James himself has heard the nails dragging down his bedroom door and the sobs echoing in the halls at night. He knows others have, too, even if no one will admit it. The staff refuses to entertain such ridiculous tales, and punishment awaits anyone who brings it up. Their fervent denial and the disappearance of students only furthers James’ determination to find out what secrets Whisperwood is hiding…especially if it prevents William and himself from becoming the next victims.

LGBTQIA Historical Romances with Detectives, Inspectors, Agents, and Coppers (including some Holmes) - May 2018 List

@love-in-mind-palace @ghislainem70 @depth-of-loyalty-and-love @artemisastarte @tehanulilac @romancingthebookworm @bakerstreetcrow @lmirandas @the-moon-loves-the-sea

[edpor68]

Happy Sunday! 1982- Southern California- Padua Playwrights/The Danube- a play by Maria Irene Fornes, one of the many collaborations between Fornes and Patricia Mattick…. #patriciamattick #MariaIreneFornes #pattyemattick #1982theater #Paduaplaywrights #California

https://www.theatredatabase.com/f/mud.html

[stefanoreves]

Minimalist book cover from my favorite playwright, Bertolt Brecht. Life of Galileo (Leben dea Galilei) print is on #illustrationstefano in #etsyshops #brecht #bertoltbrecht #galileogalilei #galilei #playwright #bookstagram #bookcover #bookcoverdesign #lebendesgalilei #lifeofgalileo #minimalism #minimalist #bookclub #booklovers (presso Padua, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKysGQrhCaj/?igshid=wr2brug4obyy

[twistofitalian]

I recently posted about this day-long cruise here (here, here and here) and now I pick up where I left off. Our first stop on the cruise after leaving Padua was in Stra at Villa Pisani.  This incredible villa is now a state museum and very much work a visit.  It was built by a very popular Venetian Doge.

  The facade of the Villa is decorated with enormous statues and the interior was painted by some of the greatest artists of the 18th century.

Villa Pisani at Stra refers is a monumental, late-Baroque rural palace located along the Brenta Canal (Riviera del Brenta) at Via Doge Pisani 7 near the town of Stra, on the mainland of the Veneto, northern Italy. This villa is one of the largest examples of Villa Veneta located in the Riviera del Brenta, the canal linking Venice to Padua. It is to be noted that the patrician Pisani family of Venice commissioned a number of villas, also known as Villa Pisani across the Venetian mainland. The villa and gardens now operate as a national museum, and the site sponsors art exhibitions.

  Construction of this palace began in the early 18th century for Alvise Pisani, the most prominent member of the Pisani family, who was appointed doge in 1735.

The initial models of the palace by Paduan architect Girolamo Frigimelica still exist, but the design of the main building was ultimately completed by Francesco Maria Preti. When it was completed, the building had 114 rooms, in honor of its owner, the 114th Doge of Venice Alvise Pisani.

In 1807 it was bought by Napoleon from the Pisani Family, now in poverty due to great losses in gambling. In 1814 the building became the property of the House of Habsburg who transformed the villa into a place of vacation for the European aristocracy of that period. In 1934 it was partially restored to host the first meeting of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, after the riots in Austria.

        From the outside, the facade of the oversized palace appears to command the site, facing the Brenta River some 30 kilometers from Venice. The villa is of many villas along the canal, which the Venetian noble families and merchants started to build as early as the 15th century. The broad façade is topped with statuary, and presents an exuberantly decorated center entrance with monumental columns shouldered by caryatids. It shelters a large complex with two inner courts and acres of gardens, stables, and a garden maze.

The largest room is the ballroom, where the 18th-century painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo frescoed the two-story ceiling with a massive allegorical depiction of the Apotheosis or Glory of the Pisani family (painted 1760–1762).[2] Tiepolo’s son Gian Domenico Tiepolo, Crostato, Jacopo Guarana, Jacopo Amigoni, P.A. Novelli, and Gaspare Diziani also completed frescoes for various rooms in the villa. Another room of importance in the villa is now known as the “Napoleon Room” (after his occupant), furnished with pieces from the Napoleonic and Habsburg periods and others from when the house was lived by the Pisani.

The most riotously splendid Tiepolo ceiling would influence his later depiction of the Glory of Spain for the throne room of the Royal Palace of Madrid; however, the grandeur and bombastic ambitions of the ceiling echo now contrast with the mainly uninhabited shell of a palace. The remainder of its nearly 100 rooms are now empty. The Venetian playwright Carlo Goldoni described the palace in its day as a place of great fun, served meals, dance and shows.

      Check out this sunken bathtub below:

                                                                                              Bear with me: in the next few photos I am trying out all of the fancy settings on my new camera:

                              To be continued.

Villa Pisani: Cruising the Brenta Canal from Padua to Venice, part 2 I recently posted about this day-long cruise here (here, here and here) and now I pick up where I left off.

[evangenitals]

Murray Mednick and Ed Harris at the Sam Shepard Tribute. Thanks so much, Padua Playwrights, for letting me be a part of your world. #samshepard #tribute #bootlegtheater #murraymednick #edharris #paduaplaywrights #theatre #legends #playwrights #wordsmatter (at Bootleg Theater)

[littalks-blog]

On October 16, 1854, one of the most iconic authors and gay icons was born. Oscar Wilde was born to William and Jane Wilde. He was their second son, a middle child, and he grew up in Dublin Ireland. His father was notorious for being a serial cheater; he had three kids with three other women, and three kids with his wife, Jane. Oscar’s mother was six feet tall, and regularly hosted parties in the parlor of their home. Oscar and his older brother were invited to sit in the room of the parties, however, they were not to talk to anyone. This is where Oscar learned to captivate an audience.

At the age of 9, Oscar was sent to Portora Royal School, a boarding school, with his brother. Later, he received a scholarship to Trinity College in Ireland, followed a few years later by a scholarship to Oxford, in England. During his time at Oxford, Oscar really came into his own. He was a six foot two, proud Irishman, who was obsessed with aesthetics. He told many people he wanted to become a work of art. He wore a lot of velvet and silk clothes and grew out his hair. In 1878, Oscar became well-known because he placed first in his finals. When asked what his next move would be, he told many people he would become a poet, writer, or playwright. He is also quoted saying, “I will become famous, if not famous, notorious.” Surprisingly, he achieved all of these things, in that order.

Oscar started writing poems when he was at Trinity College, and so, in 1881 Oscar published his first collection of Poems. The collection sold quite a bit, but many critics said the poetry was bland. It was during this time that Oscar was quoted saying, “There’s one thing worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about.” Many people were making fun of Oscar at this time. However, he went on tour in America with the play Patience, a play that was satirical of the aesthetic movement. During his tour, he was to speak to the audience about how the aesthetic movement was a good thing. By the time he returned to London, Oscar had become an international celebrity.

In 1883, Oscar moved to Paris and changed his aesthetic. He did this by adding a flower to his breast pocket. He started smoking gold-tipped cigarettes that he carried in a gold case. He also adorned a cane, for fashion. During his time in Paris, he wrote The Duchess of Padua. Soon after, he had many travels. He went to New York, London, and son back to Dublin. In Dublin, he ran into Constance Lloyd, a woman he had met in London in 1881. The two got married in 1884 and they had their first son in 1885 followed by their second a few months later. However, many people comment about how Oscar didn’t know he was gay when he was married. He was even heard making comments about his wife’s appearance. He said that he was disgusted with how she looked because her very slim body had become swollen with pregnancy. Many believe that this is because before she was pregnant, Constance resembled a male figure. Also, at age 32, Oscar became the editor of a magazine titled Lady’s World, later renamed, Woman’s World. Around the same time, Oscar began tutoring a boy named Robert Ross who was obsessed with Wilde’s poetry. It was at this time where Oscar began living a double life because Ross had seduced him.

In 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in Lippincott’s Magazine. The Picture of Dorian Gray was seen and scandalous and was highly criticized. Many people called the work ‘unclean.’ In 1891, at age 36, Oscar fell in love with an Oxford student named Alfred “Bosie” Douglas. Alfred was the encompassment of Dorian Gray with blonde hair and overall, gorgeous. However, Alfred was sixteen years younger than Wilde, making him twenty years old. Truthfully, the two were perfect for each other, and Oscar gave Alfred many gifts and they spent a lot of time together. Oscar even went as far as telling his wife that he spent time in hotels because he needed privacy for writing, however, he was staying in hotels with Alfred. Wilde even wrote many plays with titles that alluded to his secret life. For example, “An Ideal Husband” and “A Woman of No Importance.” Oscar caused himself to go into debt because the more money he made the more money he spent. He was spending the modern equivalent of $10,000 a week.

Alfred and Oscar were lovers in many settings, however, they spent a lot of time together ‘hunting’ for other lovers for themselves, or for the other. It is said that Wilde got ‘addicted’ to the danger of the homosexual underworld in London. The homosexual underworld, meaning gay prostitutes. Also, Oscar did not have a lot of time for his wife and children. However, he never tried too hard to hide his secret life. He essentially hid it in plain sight. Oscar essentially lived life thinking that if he didn’t say anything about his secrets, then there was nothing going on, even though many people saw Oscar engaging in suspicious acts.

Soon, Alfred’s father, the Marquess of Queensberry, grew suspicious of the relationship between his son and Oscar. He confronted them many times but did not find out much. In 1894, Queensberry met with Wilde on Tite Street and made his feelings clear to Wilde. “I do not say that you are it, but you look it, and pose it. Which is just as bad. If I catch you and my son again in any public restaurant, I will thrash you.” Wilde only responded to this with, “I do not know what the Queensberry rules are, but the Oscar Wilde rule is to shoot on sight.”  

In February 1895, Alfred’s father left his calling card at Wilde’s club. It said, “For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite.” Wilde, who was encouraged by his lover, initiated a private prosecution against Queensberry since the note was a public accusation that Wilde had committed the crime of sodomy. Queensberry was arrested for criminal libel. He could only avoid conviction for libel only if he could present evidence that his accusation was true, and also that there was public benefit to having the accusation made openly. Thus, Queensberry’s lawyers hired private detectives to find evidence of Wilde’s homosexual activities. During their investigation, the private detectives leaked information about Oscar’s private affairs to the press. At the end of the trial, Queensberry was found not guilty and the court found that his accusation was justified. Thus, the end of the trial rendered Wilde legally liable for the expenses Queensberry had incurred and left Wilde bankrupt.

On April 6, 1895, Wilde was arrested for gross indecency under section 11 of the criminal law amendment act of 1885. This act referred to homosexual acts not amounting to buggery. Wilde’s prosecution opened on April 26, 1895. He pleaded not guilty, but the trial ended with a hung jury. Wilde, then, was able to post bail, and then went into hiding. The trial was, essentially, reopened and on May 25, 1895, Oscar and Alfred were convicted of gross indecency and were sentenced to two years’ hard labor. Wilde was incarcerated from 25 May 1895 to 18 May 1897. Once released from prison, Wilde immediately fled to Paris and never returned to the UK. Wilde spent his last years impoverished and in exile. Alfred and Oscar reunited in Naples, during this time. Also, Constance offered Oscar 150 pounds a year to stop seeing Alfred. She had also moved herself and their children to Switzerland. Alfred and Oscar soon had to stop seeing each other because of the fear of having truly, nothing. Constance took away the money from Oscar and then died four months later. There also was no chance of Oscar ever seeing his children again.

In November 1900, Oscar died of cerebral meningitis at the age of 46.

In his life, Oscar faced quite a bit of prejudice, yet he somehow stayed true to himself. He achieved all of his goals and is one of the most iconic authors of all time.

[cyberyouthtimemachine-blog]

taming of the shrew and 10 things i hate about you comparison essay 10 Things I Hate About You from

The comedy is set in Padua, Italy, where noble lady Katerina Minola is known for her difficult character and brazen personality. Taming of the shrew and 10 things i hate about you comparison essay. Many of the plays written by English playwright William Shakespeare have been adapted to films with much success. The comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" is a good example of this. This play has been adapted to movies in several occasions, the first one being a short film directed in 1908 by D. W. Griffith. Over the years, other film adaptations had the participation of renowned personalities from the cinema industry, such as Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Maureen O'Hara, and John Wayne. The release of the teen movie "10 Things I Hate about You", back in 1999, served to highlight the fact that William Shakespeare's writings are timeless and universal. In this article we take a look at this modern adaptation of Shakespeare's famous comedy and examine the keys to its success among the public. The Taming of the Shrew: an introduction to the original play. In order to understand better the success of the movie "10 Things I Hate about You", it is useful to have a general idea about the original play as written by Shakespeare. The Taming of the Shrew was written towards the end of the 16th century (probably between 1590 and 1592). As a result of her harshness, everyone believes that Katerina will never get married. Katerina has a younger sister, Bianca, who is nothing like her sister and has two serious suitors, Gremio and Hortensio. Seeing the situation, Katerina and Bianca's father decides that he will not allow Bianca to get married unless Katerina does the same first. This decision prompts Gremio and Hortensio to devise a plan to marry Katerina off to somebody else, so that they can compete for Bianca's affection. Gremio and Hortensio see the perfect candidate in Petruchio, who arrives in Padua with the intention of getting married. Petruchio is not taken aback by Katerina's character, and soon they get married. In the meantime, Gremio and Hortensio continue their game of deception and pretense in order to marry Bianca, who by that time is in love with Lucentio.... View more ...