Obscenely and courageously

Comments

1. Richard Mix says

   July 4, 2010 at 2:18 am

   One can assume a malapropism of some sort was intended; New Variorum suggests either “seemly” or “obscurely” (the context is of avoiding onlookers while the ‘scene’ is rehearsed).

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2. John Howell says

   July 3, 2010 at 1:28 pm

   Marie’s reply is illuminating.  But don’t forget that many words shift meanings over time, and that much of Shakespeare has to be “translated” into modern english.

    

   One meaning of “obscenely” I find in some dictionaries is “so large in amount as to be objectionable or outrageous,” which sounds like a less pornographic interpretation of Shakespeare’s words.  Of course he knew music well and often used musical allusions, so it’s hard to guess his meaning in every case.

    

   Also possible:  “offensive to the senses, or to taste and refinement,” dated from 1590, and that would fit in with the “rustics” that Marie mentions.

    

   All the best,

   John

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3. Sig Rosen says

   July 3, 2010 at 1:07 pm

   So much for the theory that Shakespeare was written by/was the dark women[[of the sonnets]. A very male request.

   SIR

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4. Marie Grass Amenta says

   July 3, 2010 at 11:31 am

   Those are the “rustics” you are quoting, one of the many layers in MSND.  I was a fairy and choreographed the dances in a production in college and the director–and this wasn’t a musical production, mind you– insisted I understand the layers of each group featured before I began working on the dances.  Each faction contributes to the whole and each is important to the play as a whole.  The Court of Athens, the Lovers, the Fairies, the Rustics and, of course Puck, brings something to the story and furthers it along.  The Rustics are preparing a short play to perform during the wedding festivities of the Amazon Queen and the ruler of Athens.  They wouldn’t be guarenteed to perform, since all of Athens has been invited to prepare something as a diversion during the wedding feast, and needed to get the attention of the “worthies”.  They wanted to be “perfect” and, of course, they are anything but! “Oh, sweet chink” (etc.lovely chink) is one of my favorite lines from their section–I can’t stop laughing when I hear it performed!

    

   I’ve actually been thinking alot about that college production and what I learned from being a part of it–the director passed away two weeks ago.  When I was chosen to do the choregraphy, I was quite frightened because Yolanda was “something big” in the Chicago theater community as a teacher–why did they need me? She was kind to the 20-year-old-me and taught me many things, including to “rehearse courageously”. She had no fear, Allen, and she lived  courageously and fearlessly as she showed  by example.  To rehearse obscenely and courageously means what you think it does–trust your instincts, do your homework and then, let ‘er rip!

    

   Thank you for posting this…….I didn’t know what a chord this would strike with me today but I’m tearing up! Yolanda meant a lot to me and I will miss her……her daughter lives around the block from me and I saw her as recently as six months ago….she was still in my life and she liked how I turned out and that means so much.

    

   Marie

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