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The Play's the Thing

Discussing Shakespeare One Act at a Time

The Play's the Thing is the ultimate podcast resource for lovers of Shakespeare. Dedicating six episodes to each play (one per act, plus a Q&A episode), this podcast explores the themes, scenes, characters, and lines

Latest episode

  • Henry V: Act IV (rerun)

    01:12:32|
    Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation touches on the build-up to the battle, stage/film interpretation of Henry's famous speech, the historical context of the battle and Shakespeare's take on it, Henry finally showing some emotion, and much, much more.Remember: Subscribe, rate, review!

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  • Henry V: Act III (rerun)

    01:18:44|
    Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation explores the way Shakespeare brings the artifice of the play to the fore, the double meaning of the word "breach," Henry's obsession with duty (and chivalry), the way act three treats the horrors of war, and lots of thoughts on Shakespeare use of imagination for rhetorical purposes.Remember: Subscribe, rate, review!
  • Henry V: Act II (rerun)

    01:25:52|
    Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they continue their conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation explores the role of the commoners in the play, The Falstaff-effect, Henry vs the French Prince, Henry's rejection of his passions, Shakespeare's enduring legacy, and much, much more.Remember: Subscribe, rate, review!
  • Henry V: Act I (rerun)

    01:15:05|
    Welcome back to The Play's the Thing! Join David and Heidi as they kick off a conversation about Shakespeare's legendary history play, Henry V. Conversation touches on the historical background behind the story, the role of the church in the play, the complicated nature of the character of King Henry, and much more.Remember: Subscribe, rate, review!
  • Macbeth: Q&A (rerun)

    53:35|
    In which David, Tim, and Heidi answer listener questions about Macbeth.Remember: Subscribe, rate, review.
  • Macbeth: Act V (rerun)

    01:23:29|
    Welcome to the conclusion of this series on Macbeth. In this conversation David, Heidi, and Tim explore the madness of the play's primary characters, discuss the question of evil, and contemplate the collision of the natural and the supernatural in the play.Remember: subscribe, rate, review!
  • Macbeth: Act IV (rerun)

    01:15:28|
    Topics of conversation include the return of the witches and the way the witch scenes in Act I.I and Act IV.I mirror each other, what the play would be without the witches, the question of whether this is a "Christian play," the terrible problem of fate, and much more.Remember: subscribe, rate, review!