Watching, listening to, and studying the plays

If you spend as much time plugged into an iPod as I do, you might find it useful to grab audiobook versions of Shakespeare's plays to listen to during your spare time. The plays were not meant to be read as though they were novels, so there is a lot you can pick up just listening to a good performance, even if you can't see it.

The Madison Public Library is an extraordinary resource for Shakespeare audiobooks and movies. Its location nearest to campus is just off State Street nearish the capital.

Once you get a library card, the MPL has an online text-reservation system that works sort of like a free Amazon. Once you look up your book (here is one audiobook version of MoV, to give an example) you can click on Request Item, enter your library card number, and then the item will be delivered to the library location of your choice and held under your name for a week.

From what I have been able to tell, the MPL has a deeper selection of Shakespeare audiobooks and movies than our University libraries have. If you want to watch a version of Merchant of Venice that Four Star Video doesn't have, then MPL will probably have it. (And for free.) Just remember to keep the checkout receipt from the library so that you have physical evidence to show me.