Should we go see Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors, or The Lion in Winter?

Question

The local community theater is performing these three plays this weekend. (One Thursday, one Friday, and one Saturday.) We're not too familiar with Shakespeare and want to enjoy and understand and follow the play we see. So, for someone with a limited knowledge of Shakespeare, which will we understand and appreciate the most? (We can only pick one!)

Answer 1

If you have a hard time with the language, I would suggest Lion in Winter because, simply, it is not Shakespeare.

If you can get past the language, I would suggest Comedy because it is quite funny - if you can understand what they are saying. It is much less about the language than Hamlet, and is more about the series of circumstantial events that cause trouble between a (somewhat) well-respected citizen and his wife/town/etc. The ending is quite happy and the play itself quite humorous.. and not to mention bawdy in many instances. Hamlet is a great piece of theatre, but for someone new to Shakespeare I would suggest the lighter COE.

Answer 2

Personally I would go and see all three. As stated before "The Lion in Winter" is not by Shakespeare but it is a very very good play. As for an introduction to Shakespeare "The Comedy of Errors " is at least a comedy and some people find these easier to get a grip on. Which ever you choose it may be wise to read a synopsis of the play so you know what is happening and this might help you understand the language.

Answer 3

They're all three wonderful plays, but I'm a little nervous about the fact that this is the "local community theatre" we're talking about. Something tells me that they may be much better suited to James Goldman's "The Lion in Winter" (a historical play with contemporary language) than they are to the complexities of Shakespearean verse. I'm a great believer that Shakespeare -- done WELL -- is perfectly understandable to most modern audience members. But, if it's not spoken by talented and experienced actors...it can be excruciating. Unless you have some prior experience of this theatre company, and know them to be capable players of the Classics, I'd go with "The Lion in Winter"

Answer 4

The Comedy of Errors. Hamlet is the most complex of his plays and the Lion in Winter isn't even Shakespeare. The Comedy of Errors is lots of fun and i think it wil be a good introduction to Shakespeare.

Answer 5

I'd probably see "Lion in Winter". It's written in contemporary language and is easy to follow. Almost all Shakespeare is very poorly done; the poetry must be spoken in a very technical way which seems to elude most actors and directors and when these technical challenges are added to arcane language, which is rarely understood by the actors speaking it, the result is a little like taking castor oil - we don't really like it, but we know it's supposed to be good for us. Let me quickly add that when Shakespeare is performed by those who know what they're doing , it is a truly transcendant experience. Even then, most of Shakespeare's plays are almost completely meaningless to a modern audience due to changes in social setting and historical context.

Answer 6

Yes: if you can only pick one, "Comedy of Errors",if you have limited exposure to Shakespeare. You'll understand it easily, learn how Shakespeare sounds on stage, and (assuming it's a good production) laugh. Save "Hamlet" for when you can deal with several hours of Shakesperean tragedy (however brilliant). (Plus, due respect to your community theatre, but "community theatre" and "Hamlet" in the same sentence makes me real nervous...That's a play that the best actors in the world have trouble with.)

And then, one night before summer's over, rent the movie of "The Lion In Winter' with Katharine Hepburn & Peter O'Toole--you'll love it!

Answer 7

I don't think Lion in Winter is Shakespeare. But I would suggest that or Hamlet, because a comedy is liable to have fewer understandable events (ghosts, murders, stuff like that.)

Answer 8

All of Shakespeare is amazing. See as much of him as you can. Seeing as you can only pick one, go see Hamlet. Its one of his most famous works. I recomend reading the cliff notes or the play before you go, that way you can appreciate it to the maximum. Shakespeares comedies are tough to understand, and Hamlet is one of my favorites.

Answer 9

Comedy of Errors and hurray for you getting into Shakespeare!! CoE is the best of Will's work and it's not so hard to understand :) Enjoy!

Answer 10

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