Shakespeare Special - The Tempest

What this episode covers

Michael & Ethan take a brief break from their discussion of Of Human Bondage, by W. Somerset Maugham, and pursue an island vacation with William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Ethan drinks a Pimm’s Cup, and Michael a Brandy Cocktail. In this episode: Live and in person, Michael mixes a drink. He also makes up a pop song on the spot. The play is made up and the plot doesn’t matter. Ethan uses the (real) word “nounal.” John Dee was a wizard. Prospero: Christ-figure or antichrist? Next: The Sunday School Podcast! Ethan almost tells a joke, then does. Ethan recommends Approaching Shakespeare (which is the correct way to say it). Ethan uses the past tense of “teacher.” This isn’t the Christopher Marlowe podcast special. They might write a book. Probably not. Reductive things are stupid. Was Shakespeare a postmodernist? How real was the stuff happening onstage? Lots of theatre history fits into this episode. At the end, they talk Caliban. Michael reveals how he’s going to scare his daughter’s boyfriends. Next episode, Michael & Ethan will keep talking The Tempest, but specifically in the context of W. H. Auden’s poem, The Sea and the Mirror! After that, it’s back to Of Human Bondage! Join the discussion!  Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line.  We'd love to hear from you!  And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Donate to our Patreon! BUY A NIHILIST BLANKET! Your Hosts: Michael G. Lilienthal (@mglilienthal) and Ethan Bartlett (@bjartlett) MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco.  Used by permission.  "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License.