Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent
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4.7 • 13 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
"In a remarkable performance, Flynn laughs, jokes, and calls O'Hea to task when he's wrong--all sounding very much like the famous Dench...The final segment has Dench (in her own voice) and O'Hea engaged in friendly, very funny, squabbling. Informative, educational and altogether brilliant listening!"—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)
This program includes interstitial narration from Judi Dench and a bonus conversation between the authors.
Discover the work of the greatest writer in the English language as you've never encountered it before with internationally renowned actor Dame Judi Dench's SHAKESPEARE: The Man Who Pays The Rent—a witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved Shakespeare.
Taking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig...
Cavorting naked through the Warwickshire countryside painted green...
Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head...
These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.
For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra. In a series of intimate conversations with actor & director Brendan O'Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare's plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.
Interspersed with vignettes on audiences, critics, company spirit and rehearsal room etiquette, she serves up priceless revelations on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare's most famous scenes, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour, striking level of honesty and a peppering of hilarious anecdotes, many of which have remained under lock and key until now.
Instructive and witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi's love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In this fascinating listen, Dame Judi Dench sits down with fellow actor and instructor Brendan O’Hea for a series of conversations about the impact of Shakespeare’s work both on Dench as an actress and on Western culture as a whole. These are fascinating discussions on meaning, technique, and Dench’s life on the stage—from underfunded rep-company tours to agreeing to appear in Benedict Cumberbatch’s lauded production of Richard III because he asked her to during an audience Q and A. You should know that although Dench pops in frequently to recite lines from various plays and takes part in an unscripted conversation at the end, her responses to O’Hea’s questions are performed by narrator Barbara Flynn. (O’Hea notes that Dame Judi, nearly 90, is losing her eyesight.) Don’t let that stop you: This is a joy for lovers of literature, drama, and the wonderful Ms. Dench.
Customer Reviews
Like Being There
One of my favorite things to do is to sit among people I admire in conversation, to just listen and drink it in. Listening to this book while sitting with a warm cup of tea and looking out the window, I could imagine myself doing just that. The audiobook was truly conversational, filled with personal history and experience but also rich with history of the times and industry. I have forever loved Judi Dench and now, I love her all the more. That I have a deeper love and affection for for Shakespeare is a bonus.
Thank you so much to Judi Dench, Brendan O’Hea, Barbara Flynn, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me such an incredible experience.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.