The Tragedy of King Richard II by William Shakespeare.

[@gaildoughty6799]

Thank you, Alan! Great video.
And I loved the Jolson clip at the beginning.

[@thebooktraveller1901]

Thank you, Gail! He also appears at the end!

[@gaildoughty6799]

The Book Traveller Oh my word! I got distracted in the middle by a video showing 4 different versions of of the “Sad stories of the death of kings” speech-I highly recommend viewing Mark Rylance’s interpretation.
Anyway. My father used to sing “Tootsie” all the time. Thanks for a memory prompt as well as a gateway to more Richard II performances.

[@tillysshelf]

Oh, you read one of my favourite speeches! And so well. I need to revisit this play. Yes it can be easy to forget the extent of imagination and artistic license that went into the history plays. He has a lot of sway over the reputations of our various early modern kings.

[@thebooktraveller1901]

Thanks, Tilly. I am glad you enjoyed it.

[@BookishTexan]

This is not one that I have read, but you are the second person to recommend it in as many days.

[@thebooktraveller1901]

🎵'Brush up your Shakespeare, start quoting him now!'🎵

[@ramblingraconteur1616]

Thank you for sharing this, Alan. I recall reading the play close to a decade ago, but I need to return to it with the praise heaped on it here and elsewhere.
It seems like Henry IV is never the most interesting or poetic character in the plays he is in. Your description of him in Richard II reminds me somewhat of Octavian in Antony and Cleopatra: practical and prosaic.
Cheers, Jack

[@thebooktraveller1901]

Thanks, Jack. Shaky is always worth a re-read!