Classic Plays

"Hast du zur Nacht gebetet, Desdemona?" Als Othello dies seine Frau fragt, ist ihr Todesurteil schon gefallen, denn er ist sich sicher, dass sie ihn hintergangen hat. Desdemona jedoch ist sich keiner Schuld bewusst - wie auch, denn der verschlagene Jago hat ein ausgeklügeltes Ränkespiel ersonnen, um seinen Herrn Othello zu hintergehen... Sicherlich eine der großen Tragödien Shakespeare, ungekürzt gelesen!

Othello is a tragedy play by William Shakespeare, written in the middle of his career in 1603. The story follows Othello, a general in the Venetian army, and Iago, a treacherous soldier who conspires against him to make him believe that his wife is unfaithful.

In Verona, Italy, two young people in love defy the demands of their families and pursue their love for one another above societal expectations. Their decisions and pursuit of love send ripples throughout their family and friend circles, causing controversy and consequences. For centuries, the tale of the young star-crossed lovers has been a mainstay of both the literary canon and popular culture. This is one of William Shakespeare’s most known and beloved works with timeless themes and prose.

A comedic romance of mistaken identity, Twelfth Night begins with a shipwreck, splitting up Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian. Alone in a strange land, Viola disguises herself as a male servant, Cesario, in order to work for the Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, but it is Cesario whom Olivia falls for. A farcical tale of misplaced love, confusion, gender-swapping and aspiration, Twelfth Night remains one of Shakespeare’s best-loved and inventive comedies....

The Roman General Titus Andronicus returns from war with four prisoners who vow to take revenge against him. They rape and mutilate Titus' daughter and have his sons killed and banished. Titus kills two of them and cooks them into a pie, which he serves to their mother before killing her, too. The Roman emperor kills Titus, and Titus' last remaining son kills the emperor and takes his place.

Bianca is beautiful and demure, with a plethora of would-be suitors, but marriage is forbidden until her older sister, Katherina, finds a suitable match. The hitch? Fiery Katherina has sworn to deny the hand or demands of any would-be suitor. That is, until she meets her match in the wily Petrucio. As Katherina’s own sharp tongue is met by Petrucio’s feigned cruelty, the ‘shrew’ apparently capitulates. Or does she?

Double-meanings, disguises and dirty laundry abound as Sir John Falstaff sets about improving his financial situation by wooing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford. But the ‘Merry Wives’ quickly cotton on to his tricks and decide to have a bit of fun of their own at Falstaff’s expense.

Universally admired and quoted, Shakespeare’s Sonnets have love, beauty and the passing of time at their heart. Featuring some of the best-known and best-loved lines in the history of poetry (‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’, ‘Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds’), these evocative sonnets explore passion, the fleeting nature of beauty and the essence of true and everlasting love.

Arguably the greatest love story ever told, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet continues to touch modern audiences with its passionate depiction of the tragic romance between two young lovers. With a bitter feud between their respective families, Romeo and Juliet’s love is troubled from the start, and through their relationship, Shakespeare shows the fine line between love, hatred, comedy and tragedy.

King Henry VIII listens to Cardinal Wolsey too much and gives him power, which the cardinal uses to convict a duke of treason. Henry meets Anne Boleyn, divorces his wife, Katharine, and marries Anne. Anne gives birth to Princess Elizabeth, who the archbishop prophesies will become great.

After York's claims to the throne, Henry changes the succession and makes York his heir, disinheriting his own son. Henry's queen kills York, and York's son Edward seizes the throne. Henry is imprisoned several times and eventually killed by King Edward's brother, Richard.

After Henry V's death and while Henry VI is young, nobles rule England and fight the French, including Joan of Arc. As Henry VI becomes king, the noble houses begin to divide and take sides between York and Lancaster. The war with France winds down, and the nobles try to find Henry a wife and disagree about who Henry chooses.

TV star James Warwick and award-winning narrator/comedienne Alison Larkin star in this accessible, dazzlingly funny two-actor production of The Importance of Being Earnest--a trivial comedy for serious people. We're in England in 1895. Algy and Jack are debonair bachelors-about-town who plan to court Gwendolen and Cecily, despite opposition from the formidable Lady Bracknell.

The St. Charles Players present a new and unique telling of this children's classic performed in exciting Radio Theatre style.

Leonato, governor of Messina sun that in Sicily, welcomes in his house Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, who had arrived in the city accompanied by a retinue after the victorious conclusion of the war. Prince thanks for the hospitality and is Leonato two friends, two brave officers, young and noble Florentine Claudio and Signior Benedick of Padua.

The plot revolves around four characters: Othello, a Moor and general in the Venetian army; his wife, Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his most trusted advisor, Iago. Because of its diverse subjects, namely love, jealousy, racism, and betrayal, Othello remains relevant and valid even today. (A full-cast production.)

The action of this, the most famous play of the great English poet and playwright William Shakespeare, takes place in Elsinore, shortly after the death of the King of Denmark. Heartbroken, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, suffers greatly over the death of his beloved father and the sudden remarriage of his mother, Queen Gertrude. A terrible ghost of his father, in full military dress, tells him a terrible secret: that the king did not die a natural death, but was killed by the hand of his brother Claudius, who became the current king.

In this audio play, an award-winning stage adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic gothic novel is brought to life.

Das 1896 entstandene Stück greift auf einen zwar zeitbeschränkten Stoff zurück, der aber gerade in den wunderbar zarten Liebesszenen ins zeitlos Dichterische erhoben ist. Das Drama spielt im 16. Jahrhundert während der französischen Glaubenskriege; die Handlung beruht auf historischen Tatsachen, wobei sich Romain Rolland bisweilen sogar darauf beschränkt, geschichtlich überlieferte Texte wörtlich wiederzugeben. In dem historischen Rahmen spielt sich die erschütternde Liebestragödie eines neunzehnjährigen Mädchens, Johanna von Piennes, ab.

This CliffsNotes study guide on William Shakespeare's Othello 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.