Passion vs Intellect in Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus example

This is footage from John Barton's "Playing Shakespeare" video series, which is not otherwise available.

In this clip, John Barton gives Patrick Stewart a crack at a speech from Act 3 Scene 1 of Titus Andronicus, with a view to having him balance the extreme emotion of the piece with the "overly articulate" language and metaphor in the text.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• shakespeare
• john barton
• acting
• theatre

[AlwaysmilingPolitely]

Patrick Stewart is such an amazing actor!

[montgomery7]

Totally understand the fact that her tongue and hands had been removed. I'm just questioning the choice to have her whimper constantly. It somehow detracted from my suspension of disbelief.

[OreadNYC]

It's very interesting to see the contrast between the emotional delivery vs. the intellectual delivery of this scene from "Titus Andronicus"...especially since I've heard that this is the difference between the way in which American theater and British theater typically approach Shakespeare. American theater tends to focus on the emotion, whereas British theater (at least historically) has focused on the language.

[Westythe3rd]

Dose any one else find the way Jon Barton dilevers is quite Shakespearian ? ( sorry about my spelling :) X

[TheAzraelKnight]

@VCRAGE I KNOW !!!!!!!!!!

[Kari166]

@MrOregona230, LMFAO. XDD

[MrOregona230]

@Kari166 sounds like a slowly deflating balloon 

[appypollylogies]

It should be taken to note, he would not perform the role like this. This is an exercise, and it's not like he's spent months learning that role. As an exercise its brilliant though, and patricks acting, god damn

[VCRAGE]

Patrick stewart should have played in the merchant of Venice Film!

[JMichaelFowlkes]

@montgomery7 I think it had to not do with just the drama of the situation but with the actual text that Titus says, the whole passage about her sighs and weeping and her pitiful state driving his. Without her there is no other direct stimulus for him saying those lines. It's logical and what the text holds.

I'm no expert but I'm just saying... it's there. That's just the text and not delving into the whole psychology of the scene.

[Kari166]

Okay... I can only take so much whimpering/moaning/noise for so long.

She sounds like someone doing a poor imitation of a ghost. I understand the reason for cutting out her tongue and cutting off her hands, but, really.

[smellincoffee]

"Ravished" sounds so much more genteel than "brutally raped".