HOW TO SPEAK VERSE IN SHAKESPEARE (Acting Coaches NYC)

Another free lesson from New York acting-coach John
Windsor-Cunningham, here showing how actors can actually 'enjoy' the verse of Shakespeare, using examples from poetry and modern songs to reveal the meanings of words which actors might otherwise have missed. More free videos available on his website www.Windsor-Cunningham.com

[@francescaferrara5768]

Dear Sir, you have just read Shakespeare... No, not read, interpreted it better than many and many actors have done in theatres lots of times until now. I suppose I can't express how amazed I am not only for your pronunciation but for your marvelous acting skills. Simply wondeful.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Incredibly kind of you, thank you. Always happy to be of help. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@orangebetsy]

Haha i love the very end...that says it all! I am sure we have all fell silent, smiled and sighed, then said "Shakespeare!"

[@Bellg]

Windsor-Cunnigham, that's a British name if I ever saw one.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

John Windsor-Cunningham

[@HeWhoLaugths]

based

[@seemonkeydomonkey]

As a teacher and (very) amateur actor, I am so pleased to have discovered your channel! And so very sympathetic to how you end this video - there is no writer in the English language who is perfect... other than the Bard. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your love with the world through these videos!

[@newyorkactingcoach5822]

Of course some of his plays, if seen at the wrong time, can be awkward, and others were probably written with somebody else or wrongly copied by a publisher, but - well - who cares - in the end, I agree, so much is perfect. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@chrisschuber9149]

This guy is a fucking badass.

[@teresajirapornmanee3951]

that was beautiful- i teared up.i think you were close to speechless.

[@TheArkand]

+teresa jirapornmanee I've teared up several times watching his videos. He's brilliant.

[@Vivcatkemp]

lovely; thank you very much for your work. I am showing this to a group of home school students to help them understand Shakespeare & iambic pentameter, however your explanation of verse is so much more concrete and beautiful.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Thank you. I wanted to keep it simple, but to be clear about how much it mattered, so your kind words are welcome! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@melaniechiriacescu7876]

His videos and so captivating. His voice is amazing

[@diyah814]

This really helped me and gave me a lot of information on how to preform my monologue. Thank you!

[@billybirch2087]

thank you for your service, that was great!

[@BrittyKitty_613]

I truly love and appreciate this video. I watched it because I enjoy writing poetry, but have always been too intimidated to try sonnets. However I've recently become inspired so I wanted a refresher on iambic pentameter, and not only did your video do this for me, it actually really helped me understand it more than I ever have. It was also incredibly helpful to get an actor's perspective on reading verse, as opposed to a literature teacher or something of the like. 🤗🙏🏻

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Thanks for kind words. I think most poets give up too easily. Shakespeare must have looked at a line - as you may do - seeing the verse is not exact, or inspired by it being wrong, or deciding to change words or add one to help the rhythm, and, finally, finding, oddly, what always NEEDED TO BE SAID. Or changing the subject mid-sonnet as if writing one poem of 8 lines and one of 6! Only by studying it as much does one have a chance of reading it well. Most people have 14 bad poems, each lasting one line!

[@SuperBlackguard]

@@NewYorkActingCoach Yes... the line travels from the actors mouth and creates pictures in our heads when said...A living picture hanging in the collective unconscious

[@Ladygaga4047]

​@@NewYorkActingCoachyour amazing

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Better to come! J.

[@Lindasuperstar]

LOVE this!!!

[@Falcon-wq3ul]

I clicked on this video to help me preform sonnet 18 better for my poetry outloud competition! I was pleasantly surprised to see it here.

[@kristopherbowman1672]

Great reminder sir, thank you!

[@SuperBlackguard]

very charmingly done to light up the blossoms of mankind and pattern them together to give lifes's meaning back over to the human race again, the sunshine in these days our souls need, Cheers Mucka

[@bernardoreyes2371]

Really love and enjoy all your beautiful and intelligent videos

[@rakshahoost3002]

I love love love your videos! Very clear, to-the-point, amusing, and knowledgeable!

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Happy to buy you a drink if you're in New York. J.

[@DougerSR]

Such an engaging and captivating \ commanding voice. Would have thoroughly treasured him as my drama professor back in the day. Would love to watch his work on stage for sure!

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Very kind. No stage work planned til Christmas when I'm doing a show in New York and will announce it here! If you want to see a less 'commanding' side of my voice you might glance at my other website ( MadEnglishman.com ) and try Video number '7'. Best wishes back. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@spegnagmaglorious3590]

Goosebumps

[@roman-mz3it]

I find all these videos incredibly helpful. Thank you

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

You're very welcome. More in a few days. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@SamuelAlder]

thank you for this!

[@robdixson196]

I tend to miss these things. But the pregnant pause at the end. It was absolutely riveting.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Very kind of you to say. Thanks! Better to come hopefully, I've just been insanely busy. But soon. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@catherinebisset72671]

Ahhh Shakespeare. Perfect as it is.

[@janicethorne-smith4799]

Thank you for this inspiring video. This is the first video of yours I have watched and so have subscribed and will look for more. I am directing our school's production of 12th night soon and am hoping to do the best I can with very little experience. We are a primary school in Cape Town, South Africa and expose our students to Shakespeare from our youngest students (4 year old's) who listen to the narrative story and learn to recite a sonnet to our Grade 7's (13 year old's) who will perform an abridged version of the play. I am amazed to see how their understanding of Shakespeare grows over their years with us. Sorry to babble on but I really am grateful to you for freely sharing your knowledge and passion.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Congratulations on making Shakespeare enjoyable in any way for young people. I suspect it is your care for the students that makes them keep up! And if they get 'fun' out of doing Twelfth Night then that may be all that's needed ! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@catherinebisset72671]

Shakespeare indeed. One cannot improve on perfection.

[@Ladygaga4047]

I love this video

[@7ajhubbell]

Thank you.

[@shakespeareacademy6088]

Some fantastic comments here, John, though I would hesitate before saying that verse and rhythm are the same: part of what gives Shakespeare's speeches their force is how the rhythm (of the clauses and sentences) plays with or against the verse. But maybe that's a topic for another video!

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Well it's a 7 minute video so yes, there are a few hundred things not covered. It's just to help people who have not seen the existence and the 'guidance'' inside the verse. Fuller understanding the lines as you suggest seems to take many actors many years, and 'identifying' with that rhythm seems little done at all (if we want to get serious!) John Windsor-Cunningham

[@shakespeareacademy6088]

@@NewYorkActingCoach Very interesting, thanks for the reply! Do you know any actors working today who do 'identify' with the rhythm?

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

@@shakespeareacademy6088 Oh Lordy, no I don't really. And I don't like criticizing, so people doing their best will have to suffice. It's only hard because I've seen the best in the past, so there's no reason for me to some lesser person 'reciting' the same play. I hear stories of what happened to Tony Hopkins's Lear, (so the mess was not really his fault), which make me feel a company needs to work together more, and with a leader who is not out to rule the roost. I like to imagine a cast who work hard, just out of love for one of his plays, and who have FUN being together, without which I don't see the point. And sadly I've reached an age when few parts exist for me! I'm a fan of Chris Martin because he does understand the plays, and pathetically unwilling to watch most stars' attempts. I've even sponsorship to put on a play myself, but haven't done so JUST because of the difficulty of it all! If you're central NYC perhaps you should tell me about yourself and we could talk over a coffee.John

[@shakespeareacademy6088]

@@NewYorkActingCoach Thanks for the reply and the offer! Would love to talk over a coffee but I'm as far from NYC as you can get - I live in Australia!

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

@@shakespeareacademy6088 Damnit. My Ma was born in Melbourne and I might as easily have moved there as here for excitement, and it's a little far to travel even to just do one play so I guess it's not to be (!) But Skype can be fun, and I never 'charge' for a 20 minute chat, so if you want to tell me where I've gone wrong with everything, or discuss any play (can't think of anything else) just say. Meanwhile Best, John

[@JayDeYonker]

Wasn't expecting to be brought to tears. A wonderful video.

[@butchbrewer4923]

Smart

[@theartfuldodger935]

Young pretty starlett: "What THIS thing called Luv?" Benny Hill: "No, no, no! It's, what's this THING, called LOVE?"

[@wildcardwinner6219]

There is a video I'd love to get your take on. I've loved the rhythm, flow and vocabulary in the show but I'm not sure how to identify it, could you help me?

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

I only just saw your message. Sorry. Best to send any to the 'Contact page' on my website (Windsor-Cunningham.com) please, or my direct email ([e-mail]) and give me more information so I can possibly help. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@werr3222werrr]

I did not expect you to mention lady gaga

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Like several other singers her background was working in school plays, and she studied acting at Tisch in NYC, so she's to be taken as seriously as any other actor when it comes to analysing lines. John

[@aorta321]

He blew🤯 his own mind in the end 😂

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Hmm, not sure what you mean. I was struggling to say that when some, jut a few feelings about - about just one or two lines - is 'found' one knows that it will always work, that it can always be said that day, that we have FOUND nine or ten words of Shakespeare. John

[@chrissystewart6268]

Hi John I'm into Shakespeare I want to study Shakespeare, I will collect his plays so I can study theatre. I want to learn the characters , how to memorize the lines, I want to learn acting skills/ techniques more often which its my hopes, I look forward to acheive

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Your message seems to have cut off before it finished ! If you're saying you want coaching then please use the 'Contact' page on my website Windsor-Cunningham.com or my direct email [e-mail] and I will see if I can help. Best wishes, John Windsor-Cunningham

[@fionashark3549]

That is interesting)

[@oliviagearing1316]

What Shakespeare monologue would you suggest for a drama school audition for a female aged 19? Thanks !

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

First of all you need to decide FAST as there may be thousands auditioning for the drama school, and some of them may have worked on their monologues for 12 months ! Secondly - if I wrote any suggestions here it might cause dozens of others to do the same one as you. Thirdly it HAS to be a monologue that you understand (or you will look like the thousands who audition and just dont have a clue!) It should be from a play of his that you already know, but if you dont have one of those - well for Heaven's sake - please go online TODAY and find a part in Shakespeare play that you would like to perform and read the play through, and then write out the monologue (don't type it) and then start reading up what people say the lines mean. That is Day One. I could say come to me for coaching, but I don't like to push more people to come to me. You could send a direct email to me at jwcactor @yahoo.com (or use the the 'Contact' page on my website if that is working at Windsor-Cunningham.com) or better still find a coach near to where you live, but you need to spend hours every single day working on it as others will be doing that. John Windsor-Cunningham

[@ShakespearewithSarah]

Olivia, I'm probably way too late but I did a video addressing this question because I get asked it a lot! Age doesn't matter so much as a sense of casting type and what skills you bring to the table. I'm going to link it here in case it's of use to you or anyone reading this comment in the future: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3y0o3V_mpdmq7c

[@theosourvinos]

Does the word/ letter I, as in, I am,or I will be have one or two syllables? it rather sounds like Aaa-Eee. Maybe it's supposed to be pronounced as Aaa, as in, Aaa am, or Aaa will be.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

It is one syllable but has two sounds, and is called a "diphthong". The two are said so quickly together that they sound like one. So the word "lTEM" only has two syllables" but the first (the "I") does have two sounds in it to make the "I" they are just said so smoothly and fat that it sounds like and is counted as one. It is a diphtong, and there are lots of them, but dont worry about it, just get the basics clear, and nobody will notice or care. Being perfect is not the aim, sounding clear and truthful and nice is the point! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@adscri]

He in fact pronounces ‘brilliant’ with 3 syllables - just like ‘wonderful’.

[@user-on6ll8ki3v]

Brilliant is also 3 syllables.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

It can count as 3, but the diphthong part is meant to sound near to one syllable.

[@Star-be8vx]

I'm auditioning for a movie character who speaks in a shakespearean accent. any advice on how to speak like that and how to become "fluent" in it??

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

I don't like to push people into being coached by me, but if you have an important audition (or one that cold lead to good things) and you want to be fluent we could do a session on Skype, but I charge for that. Please see my website for details and if you want to ask me more then don't leave messages here but use the 'Contact Page' on the website ( Windsor-Cunningham.com) . If you decide not to, or can't afford it, then just practice, practice practice, and speak clearly ! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@Star-be8vx]

@@NewYorkActingCoach thank you !!!

[@petergroves9584]

Speaking verse is always a form of interpretation. If you were to read the line "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day" in isolation, you would indeed follow the obvious metre and put the first beat on 'I', as you suggest. The problem is that the very next line (indeed, the rest of the poem) makes it clear that the speaker is questioning that idea: Thou art more lovely and more temperate, therefore it’s not a good comparison. A much better idea is to put the first beat on ‘shall’: “SHALL I compare thee to a summer's day? (implying: I think not).” Shakespeare’s sonnets enter into imaginary dialogues. If I were to say “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” (‘mistress’ has only two syllables), with default iambic stressing, it sounds like a pointless truism, like saying “My bicycle is nothing like a truck’. If, on the other hand, you say “MY mistress’ eyes are NOthing like the sun” you are implicitly arguing with some other poet who has declared “My mistress’ eyes are like the brilliant sun”, and the poem becomes more engaging. See Rhythm and Meaning in Shakespeare: A Guide for Readers and Actors (Melbourne: Monash University Publishing, 2013) www.publishing.monash.edu/books/rms-9781921867811.html.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

You're 100 % right, and of COURSE you are, but my short video is intended as a simpler and basic introduction for people who have not yet much sense of verse yet. So - thank you, but please, Peter, see that I can't really go into lots of smarter details. A great comment from you, though, which some people will hopefully read, as I did with much pleasure! John

[@petergroves9584]

@@NewYorkActingCoach An excellent point which I fear I had overlooked. I'm terrible at explaining these things to beginners, because I'm always thinking "Yes, but ..."

[@jaelynrae5493]

Have you considered learning/teaching Shakespeare in Original Pronounciation rather than RP? I think it would make your rythym flow more naturally without such effort or intent to make it so.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

OK, to be clear, I'm being asked here about "OP" not "RP" (RP is "Received Pronunciation" which is my accent), but "OP" is the awful rubbish idea of speaking Shakespeare in the "Original Pronunciation" accent he was supposed to have used 400 years ago. The idea is rubbish, as I suspect Cristal himself knows, - and it makes Shakespeare even more difficult to make clear,, and the so-called accent of 400 years ago is packed with endless mistakes anyway. Actors who have, like myself, been forced to use it in professional productions have hated every minute of it and not been allowed to say so! It is rubbish, the audiences are let down, and it's a fabrication anyway. Plain rubbish. Sorry. Use your brains for something worthwhile. Not, please God - ! - "OP"! It is rubbish.

[@gnyx1566]

But 'brilliant' has 3 syllables as well doesn't it?

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Yes and no. The second syllable is more of 'diphthong' where two sounds "glide together" so if you stretch it out to being three syllables it will sound a bit odd. But who cares! Everybody says words differently nowadays, and no way of saying anything is "perfect" so what matters is that we speak clearly and with some kindness in our voice. That's all ! John Windsor-Cunningham

[@gnyx1566]

@@NewYorkActingCoach Blimey! Who knew? Had to look up 'diphthong' of course and a whole new world has opened up to me. Many thanks for taking the time to reply, appreciate it.

[@Kaylaw74827]

Ngl i can picture him telling off potter and weasly for forgetting the eye of newt

[@passingpoor]

That is an accent.

[@NewYorkActingCoach]

Yes, even in Shakespeare's time most of the roles were all played with different accents, so that the audience knew what 'class' the characters were meant to be from. They would need to know that one guy is a Lord or a Prince, and another his servant. The idea of speaking with 'no' accent - what used to be called 'R.P.' - just wouldn't make sense of the words! John Windsor-Cunningham