Bubbling up with Helena

Happy birthday, Mr. Shakespeare! The Bard was born (we think) on April 23, 1564.

It is no secret that I love his work. It probably started with everyone constantly asking me if named after Helena from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Spoiler, I am not. Also, Shakespeare’s Helena is supposed to be a tall blonde. Laugh’s on me, the short brunette, I guess?

Works based on Shakespeare’s are everywhere, of course. Here are some of my favorites!

Books

I have read many books based on Shakespeare’s work, but one really stands out to me.

Enter the Body by Joy McCullough 

Enter the Body gives voices to Shakespeare’s tragic heroines after they die. The book is set in a trap door under the stage. As they are gathered, the heroines talk to one another about their lives and process their experiences in a way they are unable to in their plays. As someone who loves Six and & Juliet, this was 100% up my alley. I read it twice in very quick succession.

Movies

She’s the Man (2006)

I love Twelfth Night, and this movie is simply the best of the best of teen film and adapatation. It is set in a high school where Viola takes her brother’s place at his new boarding school in order to play on the school’s boy’s soccer team. Amanda Bynes is brilliant in this. I find myself quoting this movie VERY often.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

Another brilliant high school Shakespeare adaptation, this one takes on Taming of the Shrew, which is not an easy task. This movie handles the prickly Kat and her journey with care as Patrick Verona is hired to date her, so that her younger sister Bianca will be allowed to date. Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon Levitt all bring the charm to this movie. Who doesn’t remember Heath Ledger singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” on the football field?

Musicals

& Juliet

You knew this one was going to be here, right? For anyone who is rightfully mad that Juliet kills herself over a man she’s known for four days (“almost, but it ended pretty badly”…), this musical is for you. Shakespeare’s wife, Anne, convinces him to let Juliet choose to live and discover her own path. It is simply brilliant and features music you know, woven into the story with plenty of cheekiness and wit.

Aida

Aida is loosely a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in Ancient Egypt. Aida is a Nubian Princess who is enslaved in Egypt and falls in love with the soldier who is engaged to the Pharoah’s daughter. The incredible score is by Elton John. If you haven’t heard it, I implore you to look it up. It rocked my world when I saw it for the first time in 2005. It needs to come back to Broadway immediately, please and thank you.

All Shook Up

I was in this show in 2008, and it brought me so much joy. It is a Twelfth Night retelling featuring Elvis music. Natalie dresses up as a boy in order to go on adventures with Chad, a rebellious man who makes his way into her conservative midwestern town. Like Tweflth Night, this show addresses themes of homosexuality, but All Shook Up also addresses racism. It captures the spirit of the 1950s and doesn’t shy away from some of the darker aspects of post World War II America.

My mom has already given me four Shakespeare books for my two month old, so we’re starting him young on exposure to his work. Let me know what your favorites are!