# Shakespeare and the Simpsons, or Homer, Thane of Cawdor

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [March 22, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064 "2001-03-22T22:00:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/1 "2001-03-22T22:00:25Z")

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A local theatre is presenting on 1 April 2001 MacHomer, or “The Simpsons Do MacBeth”.  
\<\<Written and performed by Rick Miller, this one-man extravaganza features over 60 voices from TV’s favorite dysfunctional family in a hilarious performance of Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy.\>\> The audience will see over 300 hand-painted slides and hear an original music score. Some of the characters:  
DUNCAN, King of Scotland - Mr. Burns  
MacHomer (MACBETH), General in the King’s Army - Homer Simpson  
FLEANCE, Son to Banquo - Bart Simpson  
A Porter - Krusty the Clown  
LADY MacHomer (MACBETH) - Marge Simpson

I am debating whether to buy tickets for this performance. Will I be throwing away money to attend an only moderately funny evening at the theatre, or would it be one of those magical events that will live forever in the annals of drama? Arnold eagerly awaits the verdict of the Temming Millions’ thumbs.

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**Author:** ![blanx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@blanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blanx)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/2 "2001-03-22T22:25:29Z")

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Arnold-

I’m so jealous! I’d fork out the cash, because how often do you get to be present at an event of such quality?

Besides, if it sucks, you can always get some mileage out of the story.

where, exactly is it gonna happen?

if it’s in the northeast, I may have to roadtrip.

\<marge simpson’s voice\> “Out, damned spot.”

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**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/3 "2001-03-22T23:16:20Z")

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“So foul and fair a day I have not seen. D’oh!”

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**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/4 "2001-03-22T23:21:45Z")

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“Lay on, MacDuff, and damn’d be him that first cries ‘Hold, Enough!’ Mmmmmm. Duff. Beer…”

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**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/5 "2001-03-22T23:22:36Z")

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I could see Bart in full Elizabethan dress, single pearl earring and ruff, deadpanning: “Have thee not a cow, good sirrah.”

Sounds like an interesting time, though. How much are tickets?

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**Author:** ![SuperNova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SuperNova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNova)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2001, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/6 "2001-03-22T23:39:29Z")

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See it. If your a fan of the show I bet you’ll have a lot of fun.  
Here’s a [link](http://www.rickmiller.org/shows_machomer.html) with some more info about the show if anyone is curious.

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/7 "2001-03-23T00:02:34Z")

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Well, so far it sounds like the ayes have it. For those of you wondering, it’s playing in Southern California, at the [Irvine Barclay Theatre](http://www.thebarclay.org). Tickets are $15 and $20, so pretty cheap (for a ‘live’ theatre event.)

I’ll talk to Lady Winkelried tonight and see if I can persuade her.

\<\<Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes  
of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.\>\> Who would have imagined that Marge S. would ever say those words? 😉

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/8 "2001-03-23T00:04:46Z")

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That show ran in Edmonton during the Fringe Festival, and got absolutely rave reviews. And I missed it!

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**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/9 "2001-03-23T00:36:32Z")

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I’m trying to figure out who would be the third witch.

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**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/10 "2001-03-23T04:42:02Z")

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I tried to get tickets online and can’t right now so I called the ticket office and they aren’t taking orders. So tomorrow I will try again. This sounds like a fun time and definitely reasonably priced.

So thanks Arnold for this thread and my suggestion would be go for it.

Now to just go find someone to go with me. I may have to resort to forcing my brother to use one of the tickets.

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**Author:** ![silent\_rob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@silent\_rob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silent_rob)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/11 "2001-03-23T04:58:41Z")

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A few of my friends talked about seeing a performance of it broadcast on television. They all loved it. The guy is apparently wonderful.

Sadly, I missed it, but I would jump at the chance to check it out.

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**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/12 "2001-03-23T05:02:18Z")

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This is so freaky - I watched a programme not 3 hours ago on modern interpretations of MacBeth.

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**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/13 "2001-03-23T06:42:58Z")

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You will be forever tortured by doubts and self-recriminations if you don’t check this out, **Arnold**. Heck, for $15 to $20 a pop how far wrong can you go?  
(Sorry, just got through reading the Michael Flatley/Lord of the Dance thread in the Pit; $120 for tickets would cause active agony.)

With luck it’ll be the theatrical equivalent of PDQ Bach. Even if it bombs instead of flies the pure experience would be worth it.

Veb

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**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/14 "2001-03-23T13:09:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TV time \*  
> \*\*  
> I’m trying to figure out who would be the third witch.
> 
> \*\*

Marge’s mom, of course! (Patty and Selma would be the other two)

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/15 "2001-03-23T15:26:01Z")

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Fenris, I think Principal Skinner’s mother would probably make a better third witch. For one thing, we see her more often in the TV show so more people would recognize her.

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**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2001, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/16 "2001-03-23T15:42:54Z")

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“Smithers…Screw your courage to the sticking place.”

“Yes, sir!”  
The mileage that you could get out of this would far outweigh any wasted money on the ticket price. Have fun and be sure to keep us posted.

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**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2001, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespeare-and-the-simpsons-or-homer-thane-of-cawdor/59064/17 "2001-04-02T18:33:25Z")

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**Arnold Winkelried** , Thanks to this thread I had a great time Sunday. I went to the 5:30 show and it was hilarious. Did you go?

For everyone else, I would recommend this, but be sure to refresh your memory of Macbeth before the show so that you can get some of the “inside” jokes.
