DRY, I have to disagree with you on the hair thing. Very often finding a physical trait of a character can help with the overall interpretation of said character. While hair, makeup and costuming should not dictate the characteristics, they can be influential.
I very much enjoyed your “Dark and brooding” comment, BTW. To think of Puck being played like Richard III or Hamlet is an absolute riot!
“Mommy, the fairy man is scaring me! I wanna go hoooooome!”
“What foods these morsels be.”
I didn’t figure anyone would bite on this one. Shows what I know.
That said, this topic is better suited for In My Humble Opinion, so I’ll move it over there now.
Wow. Way to wait a whole 40 minutes before getting pissy.
Choosing how to play a character is up to the actor and the director. That’s like asking how you should paint a picture.
Up to the digression of the makeup/hair people. Single braid is always good.
No. Hell, no. One of my biggest annoyances in classical theater is people who assume it isn’t classical unless they feign an accent. Shakespeare is poetry, and the words are all-too-often lost in the muddle of an accent. Some of the best performaces I have seen from American actors in Shakespearian roles is when they play them AS an American. See Robert Downey, Jr. in Loncraine’s Richard III.
“If these shadows have offended…” Good role. Congrats.
My apologies: I didn’t word this well. I didn’t want to dismiss a physical trait such as hairstyle as unimportant–I’ve seen enough Shakespeare to know better. I merely meant that, relative to how Tory chose to portray Puck (and relative to the importance of her having a good time), it wasn’t AS important in the grand scheme of things. But to dismiss physical traits such as hairstyle would be wrong, as you point out.
**
Thank you, I appreciate the compliment, coming from a poster who I know and recognize to be very intelligent and perceptive!
Personally, I don’t find Richard III’s character to be overly dark and brooding, though certainly his actions were: the role has a fine comedic element as well, and the role is often popular with the audiences, villany notwithstanding. Had the Richard III role been less charismatic, the play wouldn’t be nearly as fondly remembered!
Of course, the historical Richard III wasn’t as consistently villainous, even if you believe him to be guilty of the murder of the princes and the other misdeeds he is typically blamed for. But that’s a whole 'nother thread…
Sorry I “got pissy after forty minutes.” I thought no one was responding because they thought it was dumb… well, thanks to those of you who did! You’ve given me some great ideas and I’m really looking forward to doing this. I like the idea… about coloring my hair- I don’t know who said it, but I liked it.
Thanks for the input on the english accent. 
Oh, and by the way, “auditor” is the old english way of saying, “Part of the audience,” I have no idea why I used it other than the fact that Puck uses it in the play, and, well, I’ve been studying my lines a lot lately!
Once again, I’m sorry for flaring up like I did. I’m working on my tempestuous temper.
Tory–I can certainly empathize with getting impatient when no one responds to a post you make in what seems like an inordinate amount of time. I sometimes have to remind myself that I tend to post at very odd hours, and that responses might not be forthcoming until a “busier” time when more people are accessing the boards.
But personally, I think Shakespeare questions are NEVER dumb. And I’d say that there are a fair number of people here who agree with me.
As for your tempestuousness, being a spirited person isn’t at all a bad thing–being outspoken and having a strong point of view are qualities that can really help you be a strong contributor here. It’s really a matter of learning how the board and the people who inhabit it operate.
Good luck again, and please keep us posted as to how the play, and your peformance, is received. I for one look forward to hearing from you. 
Thank you. Guess I got you fooled, at least.
No doubt Dickie Three is an engaging character. Villains often are (Hamlet is engaging, too, and you can’t be more brooding than he!). I mentioned him because he does spend a lot of time brooding about those little brats who are in his way.
My favorite Shakespearean character is Iago, BTW. What a great villain, and I’m fascinated at how he plans and orchestrates the Big O’s downfall.
I’ll never forget the production I saw in '81, with James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer!
GAWD, what a show!
<< Once again, I’m sorry for flaring up like I did. I’m working on my tempestuous temper >>
A tempestuous in a teapot?
Although, personally, the image of a temptress in a teapot has always appealed to me.
(I’m including my background just for credibility’s sake) I’m working on my 200th production right now, I’ve acted in/directed MND a half dozen times, and I run a Shakespeare Company. Here’s some general advice:
-How would you, as an auditor, like to see Puck played?
Generally, this is between you and the director. If someone came to me with their interpretation based on the SDMB, I would be a bit nonplussed. Personally, I do think that Puck is MUCH DARKER than usually played. He’s called Robin Goodfellow in the way that the Fates were sometimes called “The Kind Ones” (to appease, to placate). He DOES do pranks (the duel, deliberate disobedience, etc.) and is capable of much worse. Don’t take this “merry wanderer” stuff too far.
DON’T watch other versions unless you are going to watch several. You need a range to pick/choose/reject–watching a single performance tends to limit people.
-How should I do my hair? ( It’s Long, straight, blonde)
If you seriously want to do theatre, DON’T DO ANYTHING TO IT! Let it grow, don’t color it, don’t perm it. I hope the person who said multi-colored spiking was joking. Women lose out on roles for having short spiky hair. Grow it long and keep it that way until you get really sick of it (and I would keep a high tolerance) or until you HAVE to cut it for a show.
What does your director think? NEVER NEVER NEVER change hair during a show without asking the director first! I’ve had to fire people because of this.
-Should I use an English accent??
Meaningless question unless I know
>which English accent you mean (technically, it’s a dialect)
>can you do it accurately?
>what does your director think?
Best advice–
read the script about a hundred times out loud. Move as you read, try different voice, pacings, laughs, walks, faces, etc. Then read the script some more. Learn your lines EXACTLY. And talk to your director.
P.S. Don’t get a tattoo, piercing, etc. before the show either, for the same reasons as with hair.
P.P.S. How do you feel about playing a pagan demi-God?
Bucky
I’ll recommend the BBC version of Othello, with Anthony Hopkins (with blackface) as Othello, and Bob Hoskins (of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”) as Iago
The BBC versions of several of Shakespeare’s plays are highly recommended and feature some great talents:
John Cleese in Taming of the Shrew
Derek Jacobi in Hamlet (also starring Patrick Stewart as Claudius)
Derek Jacobi in Richard II
Anthony Quayle in Henry IV parts one and two
Nicol Williamson (Merlin in Excalibur) as Macbeth
There are more, too–these are the ones I remember off the top of my head.
Aseymayo pretty much covered what I’d have told you about the roots of my user name (though that’s “she”, asey).
The only thing I’ll add is that you should go check out Neil Gaiman’s Sandman graphic novels. There’s an issue specifically pertaining to Midsummer Night and Puck shows up. Very interesting portrayal.
“Mystical fairie? Bloody homicidal lunatic is more like it.”
“Quiet! The Puck might hear you!”
phouka’s right- the Sandman interpretation (Puck as a mean and nasty little bugger) is highly entertaining.
DRY, I’ve seen the Cleese Shrew. Very well done.
I was also quite taken with a production of Shrew that I saw years ago. I don’t remember the company, although it may have been Stratford, Ontario. They did it reminiscent of Commedia del’Arte (sp?), and it was highly slapstick, but I thought it worked very well. It’s a real testament to the enduring quality of the Bard that so many different interpretations of his work can be successful, entertaining and true to the themes of the plays.
I’ve heard the Jacobi Hamlet is a masterpiece. I’ll have to look for it.
I’m terribly sorry, phouka - I’ll get it right in future. I looked at the Sandman books on Amazon, but there were quite a few titles to choose from. Do you know which volume is the one with Puck? (Or am I better off starting with Vol.I because I’ll probably end up reading them all anyway?)
hey, bucky. since you seem to be quite the expert, maybe you can shed some light on my earlier asked question:
everyone’s got this all wrong.
in order to play puck effectively, you must wear dirty clothes, eat cereal with your hands, and blow snot rockets.
oh, and watch out for pedro, he’ll try to get you kicked out of the house.
John Barton of the RSC in “Playing Shakespeare” is among those who claim that Shakespeare probably had a sound that is a cross between Australian English (“Strine”), Irish, and American midlands. Others claim that the Northern country accent is similar to what Londoners used.
Barton does his version of this on one of the video-tapes of “Playing Shakespeare.” I think Ian McCellan (sp?) also does this on one of his tapes.
I don’t really know Eastern Canda well enough to say, but my guess is that that sound is closer to Shakespeare’s dialect than a standard British or cockney.
Bucky
“What fools these mortals be, eh?”
“To be or not be, eh?”
“Is this a dagger which I see before me, eh?”
ehhhh, I dunno.
Thanks for your input! Do you have any suggestions? Who plays Puck well? All I have seen is Stanley Tucci in the “hollywood-ized” version.