Bad Quarto is a podcast that discusses the obscure, weird-ass, and possibly bad plays of one William Shakespeare. Born out of a weekly discussion between two friends to get through quarantine, we bring this nichey but riotous discussion to you. Equal parts cocktail, lit chat, and kicky fun. We’re glad to have you here with us.
Elizabeth Hunt, Michael Jay McClure
... against characters! Memories: like the corners of my mind; misty, water-colored memories of the way we were! ResourcesDiscipline by Jane YehMarabou by Jane YehThe Ninjas by Jane YehTheory of the Gimmick: Aesthetic and Capitalist Form by Sianne NgaiANTI by Rihanna (album)A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia by Gilles Deleuze and Félix GuattariThe Coming Community by Giorgio AgambenMarley and Me: Love and Life with the World’s Worst Dog by John GroganThe Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerFinal standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen AND Measure for Measure (a tie!)2 - Cymbeline3 - The Comedy of Errors4 - Pericles5 - Titus Andronicus6 - Troilus and Cressida7 - King John99 - Timon of Athens
... This penultimate episode of the season drops right before the presidential election, and we’re hoping our transition of power goes much, much more smoothly.ResourcesTitus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)The Story of Wine by Hugh JohnsonSweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler (musical)Kill Bill: Volume 1 (film)Disintegration by The Cure (album)English Ethnicity and Race in Early Modern Drama by Mary Floyd-WilsonThe Spanish Tragedy by Thomas KydThe Duchess of Malfi by John WebsterTitus (film)The Muppets (tv show)This is Spinal Tap (film)Scooby-Doo (tv show)Final standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen AND Measure for Measure (a tie!)2 - Cymbeline3 - The Comedy of Errors4 - Pericles5 - Titus Andronicus6 - Troilus and Cressida7 - King John99 - Timon of Athens
... in the same place, and, lo and behold, antics ensue. Rapid-paced and gleaming, just like a sports car, or something; don’t quote us, we’re drinking gin..ResourcesThe Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)Conceptual Art: A Critical AnthologyGame of Thrones (tv show)The Last Grand Duchess: Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna“The Mirror Stage as formative of the function of the I as revealed in psychoanalytic experience" by Jacques LacanRake (tv series)Scream Queens (tv series)I Love Lucy (tv show)The Philadelphia Story (film)Crazy Rich Asians (film)Poetics by AristotleThe Real World (tv show)Current standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen AND Measure for Measure (a tie!)2 - Cymbeline3 - The Comedy of Errors4 - Pericles5 - Troilus and Cressida6 - King John99 - Timon of Athens
and armour pulled conveniently from the sea. Liz and Michael Jay try to keep track of it all over cocktails. Which is its own kind of epic adventure.ResourcesPericles by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)The Short Stories of Vladimir NabokovThe Turning Point (film)The Odyssey by HomerGimme a Break! (tv show)Sister Wives (tv show)Four Fundamental Concepts of Psycho-Analysis by Jacques LacanHomo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life by Giorgio AgambenThe Breakfast Club (film)Heathers (film)McMansion Hell (blog)The Pink Panther (film)National Lampoon’s Vacation (film)Ugly Betty (tv show)Schitt’s Creek (tv show)Current standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen AND Measure for Measure (a tie!)2 - Cymbeline3 - Pericles4 - Troilus and Cressida5 - King John99 - Timon of Athens
... the word calumny, and the grossest incel ever. Liz and Michael Jay (your hosts) can’t stop being delighted and are mad about it.ResourcesMeasure for Measure by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)The Clash London CallingFodor’s 25 Best: ViennaOliver! (the musical)David Copperfield by Charles DickensThe Oprah Winfrey ShowCamelot (the movie musical)The Gilmore Girls (tv show)Marc JacobsUndercover Boss (tv show)Current standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen AND Measure for Measure (a tie!)2 - Cymbeline3 - Troilus and Cressida4 - King John99 - Timon of Athens
In a breakneck discussion we get into, and quickly over Shakespeare’s hardly seen play. Also: we have to drunkenly pronounce "dauphin" at least three times.ResourcesKing John by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)Speed (1994 film)Dynasty (1981 tv series)How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieNostromo by Joseph ConradGreen Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss"The Uncanny" by Sigmund FreudShakespeare and Queer Representation by Stephen Guy-BrayTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesThe Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and SullivanTristan and Isolde by Richard WagnerAida by Giuseppe VerdiInglourious Basterds (2009 film)Current standings1 - Cymbeline2 - The Two Noble Kinsmen *3 - Troilus and Cressida4 - King John99 - Timon of Athens
This is the story of a Princess (yas!) who marries badly and ends up living in a cave (Will S. loves caves), We summarize the crap out of this play, get into scholarship drag, and relate some tough love we got on the streets of Chicago.ResourcesCymbeline by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)A Dictionary of the English Language by Samuel Johnson"Ink and Incapability" (Black Adder clip)Timeline of Shakespeare's PlaysSamuel Johnson's review of CymbelineThe Tempest by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)Scooby DooCurrent standings1 - Cymbeline2 - The Two Noble Kinsmen3 - Troilus and Cressida99 - Timon of Athens
Timon, the main character, then finds himself super low on funds and is surprised about it and moves to a cave. Whew! Join us for a romp as we discuss, among other things, relentless misanthropy.ResourcesTimon of Athens by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)"Maneater" by Hall & Oates"Mo Money, Mo Problems" by the Notorious B.I.G.My Dinner with AndreThe Princess BrideDas Kapital, Vol I by Karl MarxCurrent standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen2 - Troilus and Cressida99 - Timon of Athens
Antics ensue. We serve up a piping hot summary, chat about mannequins, rank this baby, and exeunt into the night.ResourcesThe Two Noble Kinsmen by William Shakespeare (Arden edition)Bill and Ted's Excellent AdventureBetween Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire by Eve Kosofsky SedgwickHair: The MusicalThe X FilesCourse in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de SaussureCurrent standings1 - The Two Noble Kinsmen2 - Troilus and Cressida
Also, Liz and Michael Jay relate this play to modern life and talk about what it would take to make it actually good, all the while spinning some of the sickest beats imaginable.ResourcesTroilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare (Oxford edition)Marabou by Jane YehThe Iliad by HomerThe Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller"The Death of an Author" by Roland Barthes"What is an Author?" by Michel FoucaultUnder the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes"Turn the Living Room into a Stage: Read Plays Out Loud" by Ben BrantleyCurrent standings1 - Troilus and Cressida