Comedies

The Importance of Being Earnest

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When Algernon and Jack fall in love with two young ladies, they've done it under false pretenses, and confusion and mayhem threaten to break up the young lovers.

Shakespeare The Animated Tales: Volume IV

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Macbeth

Author:

William Shakespeare

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

01:15

The Merchant of Venice (1980)

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The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare's most well-known comedies. Blending tragedy and comedy, Merchant of Venice presents contrasts and ambiguities, the complexities of which lie in the character Shylock, the play's captivating villain. Is he a villain, a buffoon or a tragic hero?

Grade Level:

High

Length:

02:37

As You Like It (1978)

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Shakespeare at his funniest, posing serious questions in the most lighthearted tone. Is there a "natural difference" between a Duke's daughter and a commoner? Are men really stronger than women or is it just their roles in society? Some of these characters briefly discard the roles they've played in life, while others adopt new ones. In the end, they all learn something about themsleves.

Grade Level:

High

Length:

02:30

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981)

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Three plots intertwine: the entangled love affairs of Demetrius, Helena, Lysander and Hermia; the comic performance of a "play within a play" by the tradesmen of Athens; and the antics in fairyland of King Oberon and Queen Titania.

Grade Level:

Middle

High

Length:

01:52

The Taming of the Shrew (1980)

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This comic confrontation between the sexes is one of the most frequently-staged Shakespeare plays. Its sparkling wit and rich characterizations are matched with an outstanding portrayal of Petruchio that has won unanimous critical acclaim, praised as "an object lesson in serving Shakespeare to a present-day audience."

Grade Level:

High

Length:

02:07

The Tempest (1980)

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This playful romance weaves fantasy and realism into a plot that still relates to today's audiences. This timeless, comedy play is set on an enchanted island where an exiled Duke and two young lovers encounter the occult, finding good and evil within themselves.

Grade Level:

High

Length:

02:30