Classic Plays

The multi-award winning SmartPass full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play.

Hamlet was written between 1597 and 1600, just after the death of Shakespeare’s only son, Hamnet, one of twins, who died aged 11 in 1596. Despite scholarly argument that this was mere coincidence, it is impossible to believe that a writer as sensitive as Shakespeare would not be questioning the reason for the life and death of his son during those years.This production contends that Hamlet was to a large degree shaped by the answers to those questions.

King Lear has lived a long and difficult life as a king and decides that he wants to retire of his duties. To absolve himself of power, Lear decides to split his kingdom among his three daughters based on their affections toward him. While two of his daughters flatter their father and declare their fealty and respect, his third daughter refuses to flatter his ego and declares that she only loves him because he is her father. This disrespect causes Lear to leave her nothing.

A brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself. He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia. Forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from enmity and suspicion, he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth and Lady Macbeth into the realms of madness and death.

Richard III completes the cycle of plays covering the Wars of the Roses. It’s the story of Richard, duke of Gloucester’s villainous plan to take the throne. It is a tale of jealousy, manipulation and deceit based on Sir Thomas More's unfinished - and largely untrue - History of King Richard III....

Roman General Coriolanus makes his name defeating an enemy army and defending Rome. The Senate nominates him as consul, but he cannot win the people's vote, so he is banished from Rome and allies with his old enemy. He comes to attack Rome, his mother persuades him not to and his new-found ally kills him for the betrayal.

Mark Antony, one of three rulers of Rome, is in love with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Antony is summoned back to Rome, where he clashes with another ruler, Octavius, before returning to Cleopatra in Egypt. Now in battle with Octavius, Antony and Cleopatra suffer losses and miscommunication and both eventually commit suicide.

Izdanie vkljuchaet velikolepnyj sbornik rasskazov vydajushhegosja amerikanskogo pisatelja Dzheka Londona o prikljuchenijah hudozhnika Kristofera Bell'ju vo vremja Klondajkskoj "zolotoj lihoradki":Vkus mjasa Mjaso Na Babij ruchej Chelovek na drugom beregu Sostjazanie na pervenstvo.

William Shakespeare has been lauded for his mastery of poetic expression, his insight into the human condition, and his deep exploration into the psyche and motivations of his characters. Shakespeare's monologues are short distillations of his larger themes—love and loss, fairness and inequity, power and envy, lust and purity. Here are the best of Shakespeare's greatest monologues, each of which captures a shining, brilliant moment from his plays that gives us a deeper understanding of each character, whether flattering, damning, or inspiring.

विश्व साहित्य के गौरव, अंग्रेजी भाषा के अद्वितीय नाटककार शेक्सपियर का जन्म 26 अप्रैल, 1564 ई.

This play, which bears an alternate title of What You Will, was written in about 1602. Twelfth Night has always been one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, and many adaptations have been made for film and musical theatre.

Everything You Need to Know About Romeo & Juliet is the perfect resource for understanding Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, including an introduction to the famous playwright and a comprehensive explanation of the play's characters, plot, themes, and its influential and enduring legacy. With Romeo & Juliet as relevant as ever today, get caught up quickly with this resourceful guide.

Bertram's indifference to Helena forces her to use subterfuge in order to comply with the seemingly impossible demands that he places on their engagement. Keep an ear out for the clown - he has the honor of delivering some of the play's best lines!

This CliffsNotes study guide on Arthur Miller's The Crucible supplements the original literary work, giving you background information about the author, an introduction to the work, and critical commentaries, all for you to use as an educational tool that will allow you to better understand the work. This study guide was written with the assumption that you have read The Crucible.

Pervonachal'no Lessing sobiralsja napisat' tragediju «Virginija» - na sjuzhet o rimskoj Virginii. Sohranilsja nabrosok pervoj sceny etoj tragedii. Odnako vskore Lessing otkazalsja ot obrabotki dalekogo ot ego vremeni antichnogo sjuzheta, reshiv perenesti dejstvie iz drevnego Rima v sovremennuju emu jepohu. Na russkij jazyk tragedija byla perevedena vpervye N. M. Karamzinym v 1788 g.

By clever scheming, friends encourage Beatrice and Benedict's love affair, while Don Juan plots to ruin Hero and Claudio's chances of finding happiness together.

Katerina Kabanova zamuzhem za slabovol'nym Tihonom, kotoryj nahoditsja pod kablukom u vlastnoj materi, Kabanihi. Sestra muzha - legkomyslennaja Varvara - ne ispytyvaet k Katerine osoboj privjazannosti, no odnazhdy provociruet vstrechu Kateriny i Borisa, v kotorogo vljublena Katerina. Poterjav golovu ot ljubvi, Katerina vse zhe obnaruzhivaet trusost' i bezvolie Borisa, rasskazyvaet vse muzhu i zakanchivaet zhizn' samoubijstvom, utopivshis' v Volge.

O caixeiro-viajante Gregor acorda metamorfoseado em um enorme inseto e percebe que tudo mudou e não só em sua vida, mas no mundo. Ele, então, acompanha as reações de sua família ao perceberem o estranho ser em que ele se tornou. E, enquanto luta para se manter vivo, reflete sobre o comportamento de seus pais, de sua irmã e sobre a sua nova vida

Naxos AudioBooks presents the history of the Plantaganets as seen through the eyes of Shakespeare. These easy-to-understand introductions feature key speeches and scenes from the plays themselves, and are very accessible for children approaching Shakespeare for the first time, as well as being an invaluable aid to the history of the Plantaganets, from Richard II to Richard III. This set covers Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Henry V, Henry VI parts 1, 2, and 3, and Richard III.

William Shakespeare had nothing to do with the actor and moneylender William Shaksper from Stratford-upon-Avon. The man behind the nom de plume "William Shakespeare" was, in fact, a very well-educated aristocrat who often frequented the court of Elizabeth and whose real name was Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. The dramas of Shakespeare were not written for the Globe Theatre but for the Queen's court.