Modern Shakespeare

A modernized version of what a Shakespearean Prologue speech might sound like today.

(Brief forward)
Some of my favorite moments in Shakespeare plays are the introductions. An announcer would arrive on stage and tell you all what you are about to witness, to get you revved up for the show by teasing the storyline, just like we have movie trailers today. It's an art lost in modern performance and I wondered what it would be like if the tradition were kept alive today...

Prologue

Welcome one and all to this small performance,

We appreciate you coming here to form an audience.

Now our story’s fraught with some appalling thoughts,

And performing it is normally a sordid sport,

That even calling it appalling is just falling short,

So it’s awfully important that you’ve all been warned.

Now though you’re less informed you can rest assured,

We’ll put our best foot forward for your blessed applause!

We will practice more until our backs are sore,

So if our act is awesome let your claps inform us!

 

Now the story we’ll be telling might appear to be embellished �"

With the yelling it’s compelling but we’re spelling out the truth.

We’ll be selling you on jealousy, expelling over-zealousness,

So unless you’re less impressed the lesson’s best addressed to you!

We’re excelling at propelling the impression that this session -

Is especially depressing and aggressively construed.

But we’re quelling the rebellion of masculine and feminine,

With demonstrative evidence it’s sentimental too!

Relevantly implementing incremental elegance

Inherent in the severance is what we’re here to do!

Author's Note

If you're gonna mistreat it, beat it.

Reviews

[Vanesa Markovic]

To be perfectly honest,
this leaves me a little disappointed that I won't be witnessing this performance, haha.

You sir, are a master of perfectly executed rhyme.

[Aidan]

I really enjoyed this piece! The overall flow of the poem - and the rhyme, especially - was a treat to read! I'm currently taking a course on Shakespeare, and I can definitely see your inspiration in the opening acts of many of his plays. Well done!

[AprilRN1210]

here is your playful humor at its best.. it has wit, it has sarcasm, it has such delightful word play... I giggle every dang time I read your works.. It is like a hear a rapper spinning the beat and you get on stage with a mischievous twinkle in your eye, and a knowing grin and just rock the stage while we sit back in awe... It is so refreshing and entertaining to read your pieces... I swear I cannot get through one without smiling and seriously laughing at my screen.. so much fun! this has to be one of my favorites of yours.. Every time I read it I giggle.. so keeping this one for later amusement.. well done you!!! I love it..

[Chad Sell]

Now I could really enjoy a play that started out as such :) Fun read and fun idea! I appreciate the light-heartedness play with words here.

[Ashira Macy]

This was a fun way to take inspiration from the classics. I agree that Shakespeare's introductions were like little teasers to help get the audience going. Two households both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene... The great part is they never ruined the stories because there was always so much more to it than the basic plot. Great work.

[Christopher Robin]

Thanks Ashira! That's precisely what I was going for here, a little teaser before the main event. Your comments and feedback are always welcome!

-Robin

[Sophy Freebirds]

Well you are gonna be Caesar or Orlando?? Hah!! Kidding,But yea it would be good to revive this lost art. I liked how you started this prologue "sore backs"- any audience is gonna appreciate that effort. Normally the tone is asking for exaltation or in other case if it is unsatisfaction.. they apologize.. it felt like you were announcing it loud. :) nice write. Pardon me if i come here again and again. Its quite refreshing to read your works.

~Sophy

[Christopher Robin]

You're most welcome and like my other pieces I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the feedback I feel as though this is definitely how it would go down nowadays. Yes Shakespeare's players always seem to make some sort of humorous apology in advance at the start so I had to work it in there somewhere. And with a piece like this I'm guessing I'd be someone like Richard III, using my wits to scheme my way to the throne. Haha!

-Robin

[Sophy Freebirds]

Lol... don't be that... :D. Or you will be betrayed by some Cunning brutus. Was a pleasure Chris.

[Latifa]

I like the narrative aspect in this piece and the internal rythme.
very vivid image painted here, I can almost be there in the scene of this poem.

[Christopher Robin]

That's awesome Latifa! That's the feel that I wanted to create, that you were an audience member sitting in your seat watching the stage wondering what was coming next...

[Cory Barrett]

It is a lost art indeed. I would be delightful to see the lead in a move introduce every flick on screen!

[Christopher Robin]

I know right! How much would you love Arnold Schwarzenegger to come right out during the opening credits and say "There will be explosions, there will be one-liners, you will love every minute, I'll be back".

Or Morgan Freeman could just do it for every movie ever.

[Cory Barrett]

I want to see arnie do this so bad now!

[Rene Salinas]

What an interesting Idea akin to some of the introductions offer on plays. In fact I got reminded of them times I was dragged to see christmas plays. The only thing that I can offer as a comment and questions is that in most cases I have encountered the introdction will offer a humorous apologetic along the lines of; If we fail to perform adequetly is not for the lack of trying so... .

I revel in concpets and abstraction so nothing but welcoming feelings from me.

Thankyou

[Christopher Robin]

Most welcome, and I agree with you, though the lines aren't connected, I figured 'performing it is normally a sordid sport' and 'we'll put our best foot forward for you blessed applause' might have covered that exact type of humorous apology, but perhaps it remains a little unclear. Perhaps the irony is that the poem itself is a reflection on me trying to write the poem, ha!

Thank you for your comments, much appreciated!

-Robin