The Good, The Bard, and The Ugly

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Each week Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s own Jeremy Dubin and accomplished Shakespeare scholar (and friend of the theatre) Dr. Niamh O’Leary explore the wealth of Shakespeare-centric entertainment that can be enjoyed right from the comfort of your livin

Cincy Shakes


    • Jan 13, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 2m AVG DURATION
    • 48 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Good, The Bard, and The Ugly

    The Taming of the Shrew, dir. William Ball (American Conservatory Theater 1976, via YouTube)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 68:16


    Maggie Lou Rader join Niamh and Jeremy to discuss a Taming of the Shrew that we all... might love? Turns out the secret to a perfect Taming of the Shrew lies in the 1970s!

    National Theatre at Home's Comedy of Errors

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2021 62:03


    Hijinks about as we are joined by CSC's Crystian Wiltshire to discuss Dominic Cooke's 2012 Comedy of Errors!

    Antony and Cleopatra, Stratford Festival (2015)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 64:39


    Vanessa Corredera, Andrews University, joins us to discuss Shakespeare, race, and Anthony and Cleopatra!

    Merchant of Venice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 75:50


    Today Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Courtney Anthony, former docent at the Folger Shakespeare Library, to discuss Jonathon Munby's 2015 Globe Theatre production of Merchant of Venice!

    Christopher Moore's Fool

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 50:44


    It's a Minisode! Jeremy and Niamh discuss Christopher Moore's 2009 novel Fool and how fun it is to watch this unnamed King Lear character take center stage.

    Stratford Fest Coriolanus

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 73:41


    Niamh and Jeremy are joined to discuss Robert Lepage's 2019 production of Coriolanus by Jemma Alix Levy, WLU associate professor of theatre and director of CSC's Miss Holmes!

    Measure for Measure (dir. Paul Ireland, 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 73:08


    We're joined by scholar Ambereen Dadabhoy to discuss the 2019 Paul Ireland adaptation of Measure for Measure. https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/15/16644938/shakespeare-measure-for-measure-weinstein-sexual-harassment-play-theater

    Shakespeare in Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 74:10


    Today we're joined by local English teachers Heather Jones and Samantha Jones to discuss a modern classic-Shakespeare in Love!

    She's the Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 57:50


    We're joined once again by Caitlin McWethy to discuss the mid-2000s answer to 10 Things I Hate About You, She's the Man! Spoiler alert: We don't love it.

    Kenneth Branagh's As You Like It

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 68:23


    Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Geoffrey Barnes II to discuss Kenneth Branagh's As You Like It!

    National Theatre Live's Romeo and Juliet (2021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 69:23


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Courtney Lucien and Crystian Wiltshire to discuss the epic 2021 film/theatre adaptation of Romeo and Juliet from National Theatre, available on the PBS video app.

    We're Back!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 14:57


    Hello friends! After an early-summer hiatus, we are back with a vengeance! To ring in our newest season, we spoke with some of the kids at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Summer Camp about their favorite Shakespeare plays. Enjoy!

    National Theatre Live Julius Caesar (2018)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 68:43


    Friend of the Pod Kelly Mengelkoch join us to discuss our very first Julius Caesar production! https://beforeshakespeare.com/2018/02/16/julius-caesar-and-the-politics-of-having-an-audience/ Robben Island Shakespeare

    The Hollow Crown: Henry VI

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 67:49


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Cincinnati Shakespeare's own Henry VI, Darnell Benjamin, to talk about the BBC Hollow Crown production of Henry VI.

    Dream: An RSC Event (Minisode!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 35:20


    Jeremy and Niamh discuss the theatre of the FUTURE and chat "Dream," a recent foray into VR by the RSC.

    Slings & Arrows Season One: Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 52:34


    Jeremy, Niamh, and Producer Alice once again journey up north to the fictional New Burbage theatre to discuss the second half of season one of Slings and Arrows!

    Slings and Arrows Season One: a Two-Parter!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 77:19


    Producer Alice joins Jeremy and Niamh to chat about the television show Slings and Arrows, a Canadian cult classic and favorite among regional Shakespeare companies. This is one of two episodes about the six episodes of Slings and Arrows season 1.

    My Own Private Idaho

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 69:06


    Join Niamh, Jeremy, and CSC's very own Prince Hal, Justin McCombs, to discuss this Henry IV-adjacent 90s cult classic, starring Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix.

    The RSC's Richard II

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 70:09


    Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Manuel Jacquez of Ohio State University to discuss David Tennant's 2013 acclaimed Richard II. Spoiler alert: Everyone loves it. Plus, a reminder about a digital theatre piece coming up this weekend! Find more information about "Dream" at the link below. https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/dream-explore-the-future-of-theatre-in-the-virtual-forest

    Lion King

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 67:39


    It's here--We finally discuss Lion King! Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Sara of the Ripe Good Scholar blog and Breaking Bard podcast to discuss how to introduce Shakespeare to kids, and The Lion King, and how it mirrors many Shakespeare plays--not just Hamlet.

    Noblemen (Merchant of Venice)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2021 71:43


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Taarini Mookherjee to discuss Noblemen a retelling of sorts of Merchant of Venice through the lens of an Indian prep school.    (Noblemen is available on Netflix.)

    O

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 65:42


    Candice Handy joins Jeremy and Niamh to talk about the 2001 teen Shakespeare classic adaptation, O. This was recorded December 31st of 2020, so get ready for some 2021 excitement that we're not sure January lived up to!

    Big Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2021 60:03


    Jeremy and Niamh go back to the wacky 80s with Kelly Mengelkoch and her twin, Kristen, to discuss the ties Big Business has with Comedy of Errors!

    BONUS: End of 2020 Roundup!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2020 33:54


    Niamh and Dubin discuss their favorites from this year, and what we're looking forward to in 2021!

    Bonus Episode: The Drunk Santa X-Mas Spectacular!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 57:26


    The entire cast of this year's Drunk Santa X-Mas Spectacular joins Niamh and Jeremy to chat about the filming process, their own favorite Christmas classics, and quality over quantity in terms of how many whiskeys we've all had.  (Not really appropriate for anyone who still believes in Santa!)

    Scotland, PA

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 59:38


    Producer Alice and local man-about-town Rory Sheridan join Niamh and Dubin to talk about Scotland, PA, a Macbeth send up that makes us all appreciate Maura Tierney even more than before.

    Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 69:19


    Join Niamh, Jeremy, local boardgame store Woodburn Games proprietor Michael Hubbard, and Kensington Books Editor Esi Sogah, as they discuss the Gen X classic Romeo + Juliet, starring Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio at his heartthrobbiest.  Three of them love it, one of them hates it, and we bet you can figure out which one within the first five minutes.

    David Tennant's Hamlet

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2020 64:07


    The Doctor, Jean Luc Picard, and Shakespeare walk into a bar, in what swiftly becomes one of our most scholarly episodes yet!  Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Charlie Gustafson-Barrett and Graley Herren to discuss The Royal Shakespeare Company's 2009 award-winning production of Hamlet in this week's episode!

    Ethan Hawke's Cymbeline

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 65:38


    What does Ethan Hawke have to do with Shakespeare? If you said Hamlet, you'd technically be right, but off the mark for today's pod! Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Cincinnati actor Corinne Mohlenhoff and publicist of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington DC Colleen Kennedy to discuss Ethan Hawke's other Shakespeare outing, Cymbeline, which they watched so that you don't have to.

    Michael Fassbender Macbeth Minisode

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 31:31


    Michael Fassbender plays Macbeth, and Jeremy and Niamh... can't quite understand what he's saying? Join us for this week's minisode, a rerecording of an old, corrupted, never-before released episode!

    Julie Taymor's Titus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 68:44


    CSC's own Lavinia, Maggie Lou Rader, and Rebecca Muich of UNC Greenboro join Dubin and Niamh for a special Halloween episode to discuss the much-maligned but equally beloved Titus Andronicus, focusing specifically on Julie Taymor's 1999 Titus, starring Anthony Hopkins, Alan Cumming, and Jessica Lange. Happy Halloween, and look out for those meat pies this season!

    The Banquet

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2020 71:13


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Candice Handy and local fight choreographer and kung-fu movie aficionado Gina Cerimele-Mechley to discuss one of Niamh's favorites, The Banquet! Four people who feel "meh" about Hamlet at best discussing a Hamlet interpretation that three of them love. What could go wrong? Watch The Banquet here on youtube! 

    Roger Daltry Comedy of Errors

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 59:50


    That's right... This week we're joined by Justin McCombs and Geoffrey Barnes to chat Comedy of Errors starring, somehow, the one and only Roger Daltry! Less "drug-induced fever dream" and more "Imagination Station" than any of us expected, listen to find out if it's worth the ride! (You can stream this movie with your Amazon Prime subscription.)

    Anthony Hopkins' King Lear

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 60:01


    Join us as Jeremy and Niamh, as well as actor Kelly Mengelkoch and actor, professor, and director Torie Wiggins discuss Anthony Hopkins' King Lear. Did we like it? Weeeelllll....... you'll see!

    Deafinitely Theatre's Love's Labour's Lost

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2020 75:13


    Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Dawn Caudill and Montez Greer to chat Shakespeare in another language... British Sign Language! The conversation is fascinating, and the play is a delight.  Find the episode transcription here! 

    Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2020 71:16


    You've been hearing about it for months--and now here it finally is! Miranda McGee and Crystian Wiltshire, both Much Ado veterans, join Jeremy and Niamh to discuss arguably the best Shakespeare film adaptation around--Kenneth Braunagh's Much Ado About Nothing.

    Ian McKellen's Richard III

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 66:23


    Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Maggie Lou Rader and Cincy Shakes' own Richard III, Billy Chace, to discuss the 1995 film Richard III starring Sir Ian McKellen himself.

    Warm Bodies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 58:04


    Two households, both alike in... their desire for BRAAAAAAINS? This week, Niamh and Dubin are joined by Kenny Hamilton and Courtney Lucien to discuss the Zombie answer to the early aughts Twilight phenomenon, Warm Bodies. We discuss whether or not it's a good adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, whether or not it's a good movie in and of itself, the merits of a Zombie makeover scene set to "Pretty Woman," and we even get to discuss it with bonafide teen Talia Rader-Roth in our "Phone-a-Pleb" segment!

    The Globe's 2013 "Midsummer Night's Dream"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2020 67:59


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by poet and Professor Emeritus Norman Finkelstein to discuss the romp that is the 2013 Globe Theatre production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." You can find this production available for rent or purchase at the link below! https://globeplayer.tv/videos/a-midsummer-night-s-dream-english

    King of California

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 70:25


    Niamh tries to convince Jeremy, Caitlin McWethy, and Geoffrey Barnes that the 2007 Evan Rachel Wood/Michael Douglas vehicle King of California is a Tempest adaptation and she... kind of succeeds? (Please note, as we are recording this socially distant via the internet, there is some occasional clicking in this episode!)

    Bonus Minisode: Pericles!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 31:29


    Even Shakespeare Scholars need a break! This week we're so excited to offer up our first "minisode," a half hour conversation between Jeremy and Niamh about the 2016 Stratford Festival production of Pericles.

    Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 74:57


    Caitlin McWethy and Darnell Benjamin join us to discuss Niamh's favorite Shakespeare onscreen-although Jeremy doesn't necessarily agree!

    Theatre for Young Audiences and The Globe's Macbeth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2020 72:01


    Niamh and Jeremy are joined by Geoffrey Barnes and Alice Flanders to discuss the 2020 Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA for short!) production of Macbeth, as well as introducing and teaching Shakespeare to kids.

    Kenneth Branagh's Henry V

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020 71:22


    Join Jeremy, Niamh, Kelly Mengelkoch, and CSC's own Henry V, Justin McCombs for an in-depth discussion of Kenneth Branagh's first movie, Henry V! Spoiler Alert: We all think it's pretty perfect.

    Ralph Fienne's Coriolanus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2020 83:30


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Brian Isaac Phillips, Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, and Lauren Ginsberg of the University of Cincinnati Classics Department, to discuss Ralph Fienne's 2011 movie adaptation of Coriolanus.

    Kenny Leon's Much Ado About Nothing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2020 91:20


    Today we are joined by Actor, Dancer, Activist, and general amazing human Darnell Pierre Benjamin and the founder of Cincinnati Black Artists Collective (check out their weekly monologue series on Facebook!) Candice Handy to discuss Kenny Leone's all Black production of Much Ado About Nothing.

    The Good, The Bard, and the Ugly Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2020 2:21


    Straight from the couches of your favorite CSC actors, a brand new podcast about some of your favorite Shakespeare plays and adaptations! For transcription, please click here.

    10 Things I Hate About You/Taming of the Shrew

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 73:46


    Jeremy and Niamh are joined by Maggie Lou Rader and Alice Flanders to talk Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You as things get fiery in our pilot episode!

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