The Bardcast: "It's Shakespeare, You Dick!"

Sent us a text, you dicks!! "We like to drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, driiiiink, driiiiiink, driiiiink!!!' This episode brings to mind the operetta "The Pleasant Peasant" from I love Lucy. Why?? Because this episode is all about the characters in the Shakespeare canon that like to tie one on!!!! Which characters are complete lushes? And which characters are not necessarily drunkards, but alcohol destroys their life in one way or another? And what were common dr...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Yeah, yeah, we know, we constantly harp on our shared belief that if you put a concept on a play, and particularly a Shakespeare play, it must ADD to the text and make the play better by its addition. Otherwise, it sucks. So... in this episode, in what we think is chronological order, we go through every play in the canon and decide what we think would be a HORRIBLE idea for a concept for that play (or, in many cases, for ANY play). Yeah. Oh, and by the...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Hi dicks and dickesses!!! In this episode, we discuss all the things related to Shakespeare that we want to see or hear or direct or play and haven't gotten to yet!!! FYI, there's A LOT. What about you??? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 501C3 Non-Profit - helllloooooo, tax deductible donation!!!) - per episode if you like! ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We do not mean the bovine kind, here folks... we are talking about grudges. Which characters in the canon have a beef with another character? Which characters do we have beefs with generally? And when do we have a beef with Shakespeare for writing what we think is stupid or impossible?? In this episode we dive deep down into the tallow (get it??). Join us!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We have talked about many aspects of characters in the canon over the last six (!!!!) years, but during an off mic conversation, we realized that we have never specifically talked about those characters who are heads and tails above the others as far as intelligence goes! In this episode, we do a deep dive into the mental power of the canon. Who do you think we missed?? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebar...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Really... who and what can you trust these days??? It's bad enough to not be able to trust the media in the world today, but what about people? LA had been thinking about the Canadians she encountered during her trip to Newfoundland (AMAZING people!!!) and Owen suggested this topic. Who are the people in the Shakespeare canon that one can ACTUALLY trust? With secrets, with errands of importance, with your life?? In this episode we dive in (while watching our backs)...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! There are a LOT of selfish, self-centered, and self absorbed characters in Shakespeare. In this current climate (and we don't mean weather!), we've been thinking a LOT about this topic, so we decided to put these thoughts to good use. So... who are the real narcissists and egomaniacs in the canon? We found a whole bunch - can you think of any we missed?? Write and tell us!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebar...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We've talked about many things over the years (YEARS!!!), but we realized that we never delved into the fatherly aspects of the Shakespeare canon!! So, in this episode we talk about all the fathers - the good ones, the bad ones, the absent ones, the murderous ones, etc. Can you think of any we missed?? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 5...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We cannot believe it but this episode is the start of our SEVENTH SEASON of the pod!!!!!!! We are INCREDIBLY grateful to all our listeners and guests over the years... and we wanted to reflect that in some way, hoping that all of you have learned as much as we have. And so, this episode is us talking about seven (at least!) things we've learned about Shakespeare in our time doing The Bardcast. What have YOU learned??? To send us an email - please do, we truly wan...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! IT'S BAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!! Your thought we were done with the sonnet episodes, didn't you?? NO, DEAR LISTENERS!!!! (After all, there are 154 of them!!!) And this time, we have our dear friend (and one of the top fans of the pod!!) Brian Linden with us!! Brian has chosen Sonnet 19 to perform and discuss, and we are tickled pink!!! Strap in and get ready!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! There are several wars happening in the world now. We don't think all of them are justified. In this episode, we discuss the wars in the canon and whether or not we think those were fair - or just plain idiotic. As Shakespeare said: Now, for our consciences, the arms are fair ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Sooooo... we have always (well, not we as in Owen and Lisa Ann, but we as in Shakespeare scholars across the centuries) suspected that William Shakespeare owned property in London somewhere in the Blackfriars area. And in fact, there is a plaque that says just that on the side on an office building there! But!!!!! Thanks to Lucy Munro, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature at King's College London, we now know that he absolutely DID purchase a proper...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Dear listeners, dicks and dickesses!!! You have heard us discussing The Winter's Tale for YEARS now, and recently, we've mentioned that Lisa Ann is currently directing a production of it for Slippery Rock University's Theater Department and is INCREDIBLY proud of all the work these wonderful young artists have done in the past few months. Well guess what - it opens tonight, April 17, 2026, the same day this episode drops!! So... we invited some of the c...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Yes, we know we spelled it the British way... on purpose of course, because that is what this episode is about!! The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust began last year (as a result of academic pressure) to "de-colonise" its collection. What does this mean? Well, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust has warned visitors that some items in its collections may contain ‘language or depictions that are racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise harmful’. (obviously, it was ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We LOVE when listeners write to us and suggest an episode topic!! This one comes out of an email by a listener - and actually, we mined several topics of that email!! In this episode, we talk about those characters who have committed literal or figurative crimes and whether or not they get away with it. Is there anyone you can think of that we missed?? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We've been surrounded lately by the abuse of power running rampant in our country. It's disheartening. So how do we combat this? We connect it to the Bard!!! What characters are guilty of misusing their office and/or position for nefarious uses? Why? And how does it serve the play? In this episode, we discuss just that. To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by gi...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! The weather outside is STILL frightful, but getting better. Nonetheless, dealing with it has made us grouchy. And cranky. And fussy. So we thought... Who are the grouchiest characters in the Shakespeare canon? And what are the degrees of grouchiness? In this episode, we (crankily) discuss this topic. Who can you think of that we missed? Write us and we'll send you COOOOOOOL swag!!!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We've been thinking a lot about the cold... a huge snow storm where we live, bitter temperatures, the protests against the employees of the Dept. of Homeland Security... sigh. Shit IS ice cold!!! Also, LA is currently directing a production of The Winter's Tale and there is some COLD freakin' behaviour in that play!!!!!! So we thought... who are the coldest characters in the Shakespeare canon? What are some of the iciest moments?? Who's the Shakespearean Mr. or Ms....

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Asses, butts, behinds, and fistulas.... what do they all have in common? Actually, we were just amused at the thought of an episode about asses, so there you are. What did we miss? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 501C3 Non-Profit - helllloooooo, tax deductible donation!!!) - per episode if you like! On Patreon, go here: h...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Now... both of us have taught in institutions of higher learning. And both of us have engaged in scholarly discussion of the Shakespeare canon from time to time, but first and foremost, we are actors and creatives and THAT is how we look at the text. What's the difference between how an actor views a Shakespeare play and how an academic views a play? And FYI, loving to teach and loving academia are not the same thing. This is what we discuss in this episode. ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Merry Christmas!!! Happy Boxing Day!!! ( And also, Happy Belated Hanukkah!!! And Happy Kwanzah!!!) In this episode, we talk about all the gifts that are given from one character to another in the Shakespeare canon. We also talk about traditional Elizabethan gifts... 'cuz, you know, it's presents time of year!!! Did we miss any?? Write and tell us!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! This its our belated Thanksgiving episode, dicks and dickesses!!! We are talking about those characters in the canon who are truly jive turkeys. Oxford Dictionary says "a dishonest, insincere, or foolish person." But it's not that simple - people are complicated!!! We only thought of a few definitive jive turkeys, albeit other characters have some jive turkey-esque qualities. Who can YOU think of??? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear fro...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Hello dicks and dickesses!! We are taking this week off due to personal reasons, but we leave you here with LA and a few Shakespeare quotes about thankfulness. Hope your Thanksgivings (if you celebrate it, that is!!) were warm and wonderful!! LA & Owen To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 501C3 Non-Profit - helllloooooo, tax deductible ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! To be completely honest, this episode came directly out of the fact that Owen had a colonoscopy the day we recorded. However, we stand by it - there are TONS of ass reams in the Shakespeare canon. People are always yelling at each other. That's what we're discussing today. Short and sweet. Can you think of any we missed? To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by gi...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Happy Halloween!!! Blessed Samhain!!! Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh!!! (Which basically means "Happy Samhain to you all") It is the evening where the veil between this world and the spirit world is the thinnest. It is the day of costumes and black cats and candy corn and trick or treating. It's a day filled with a lot of drama throughout history. In this episode , we discuss which characters would give or get a trick? Which characters would give or get a t...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Today's topic comes from our dear friend, costumer extraordinaire and friend of the pod, Nancy Nichols!!! Thank you, Nancy!!! Regret and remorse are BIG themes in a lot of the Shakespeare canon. In this episode we discuss who regrets the actions of their past, who doesn't regret the actions of their past, and who thinks they won't ever give a rat's ass but alas, that ain't how it's going to go. What do YOU regret?? Or not?? To send us an email - pleas...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Today we welcome renowned Fight Choreographer and Gentlemen of All Things Weaponish, Dan O'Driscoll, to discuss what weapons and things people used to fight and slay and otherwise hurt each other in the Shakespeare canon. Rapiers? Halberds?? Poleaxes and pikes??? Hooray!!! Such pointy and sharp fun!!! We love this!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We realized that we have never talked about the children and babes that appear in the Shakespeare canon. And we're shocked!! In this episode, we do just that - who are the younger generation characters? And what is their purpose and what do they add to the stories?? Get your binkies ready and jump right in to the baby pool with us!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To suppo...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Is there someone you would die for? Or something? A cause, perhaps? In this episode (which is, of course, inspired by the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses that we are rehearsing), we discuss the characters in the canon that die for something - a person, a cause, a King. Would you die for something?? Write and tell us!! Come see Les Liaisons Dangereuses!!! https://www.theschoolhousetheater.org/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLtyfRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFOR2g5ZUpGNGRIMk1qaFBVAR...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Soooooo.... for once, we are currently in the same city, in the same building, in the same rehearsal room every day, rehearsing an English play based on a French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. (See below for link for tickets!!!) And French stuff is on our minds, for sure!! Obviously, that led us to thinking about all the French stuff in the Shakespeare canon - words, characters, situations, historical events, tout ça!!! In this episode, we dive into the proverbia...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! There are SOOO many times that characters break bread (sometimes humans in the form of a pie, but I digress...) together in the Shakespeare canon. So we were thinking... which of these famous banquets and dinners would we want to attend? Which ones would we not touch with a ten foot halberd?? In this episode, we dive into the soup, as it were. Come on in!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyo...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! You know... you just can't avoid a lot of stuff that happens over social media these days, and one of those things THIS week was that hilarious outing of the CEO and his bitch at the Coldplay concert. I MEAN, HOW DUMB CAN YOU BE????? It got us thinking though... what are the instances of infidelity and adultery (real and imagined!) in the Shakespeare canon? We can't believe we haven't talked about this before, but here we go!!! To send us an email - please do, we...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! How old ARE Romeo and Juliet? And Antony and Cleopatra?? And Rosalind and Orlando??? And King Lear???? In this episode, we discuss not only how old the characters in the canon are (or in many cases, appear to be), but also, whether or not it makes a difference to the story. And on top of THAT, we also talk about how well known actors play characters VERY different from their own age when they play certain roles. Ageism, you say?? Nah. To send us an email - please...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! It's oppressively hot in the Northeast US right now... and that got us thinking about the definition of hot... hot - /hät/ adjective adjective: hot; comparative adjective: hotter; superlative adjective: hottest having a high degree of heat or a high temperature.(of food) containing or consisting of pungent spices or peppers which produce a burning sensation when tasted.passionately enthusiastic, eager, or excited.INFORMAL - involving much activity, debate, or inten...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Soooo... After we're dead, if any of our dear friends want to listen to one episode of our podcast because they knew us well and miss us terribly this is the one. If they do listen, they'll go - yeah. That's them. We're talking about hoes and whores in the canon. Draw your own conclusions. Happy National Fuck You Hoes Day!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Welcome to Season 6!!!! We know, right??? We can't believe it ourselves!!!! That being said, we decided to get a little selfish and okay, self-serving, so in this episode, we talk about the characters in the canon that we - personally, for whatever reason!! - find annoying. It's our pod, after all!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! As we head into our sixth season of The Bardcast, we firstly want to say - thank you, thank you, thank you to all our incredible listeners!!!! We are SO grateful for your love and your listening and your patronage, especially in this current climate. Which leads us to today's topic - The State of the Art in the United States right now. To be succinct - IT FUCKING SUCKS. Arts organizations are losing what was previously promised grant money by the tens of mill...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! We are SO EXCITED, listeners!!!!!!!! Today's guest is Timothy Scott Bogart, writer/director of the gorgeous new movie musical Juliet and Romeo, dropping Friday May 9 at a theatre near you!!! Incredible cast - Derek Jacobi (drool!!), Jason Isaacs (double drool!!), Rebel Wilson, Rupert Everett... and a whole new bunch of faces that are going to EXPLODE when this baby opens!!!!! We discuss the adaptation, the concept, the fantastic pop music written by Tim's bro...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! SURPRISE!!!!! Everyone needs a good surprise now and again, right??? Well, today's episode is about lots of things in the Shakespeare canon - as well as the man and his life!!! - that are unexpected and surprising!!!! Even things one of US didn't realize or know!!! Can you believe it??? We can't!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - w...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Deluded - /dəˈlo͞odəd/ adjective: deluded believing something that is not real or true.Wow. Topical, huh??? In this episode, we discuss the MANY and varied characters in the canon that are, in one way or another, deluded. Who can you think of that fits this particular bill? Email and tell us!!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 501C3 Non...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Hello, dear listeners!! We've recently been abroad!! And one of the things we learned is that the world is sad for us in the US. Sigh. So we decided to look at the brighter side of life!! In this episode, we talk about our travels, but we also look at those moments or characters or relationships in the Shakespeare canon that give us hope!! And that springs eternal, right??? Right!! To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - w...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Soooo... we were having a discussion about nobility. And not just the class rank kind, but what exactly is it that makes a person noble? And for that matter, what exactly delineates the difference between royalty and nobility? In this episode, we discuss the characters in the canon - which characters are noble? Which are ignoble? Which characters are so complicated that it simply isn't a black and white answer?? Join us and find out what we think. And tell us what ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! LA knows how fussy Owen gets when she gives him an online Shakespeare quiz that is TERRIBLE. And it kind of absolutely delights her. Because it pokes the bear (Owen). In this episode, LA gives Owen a 44 question Shakespeare quiz from the website Quizlet. And it is FUCKING HORRIBLE. Not only are the so-called "answers" to some of the questions completely ridiculous and WRONG, but things are misspelled. Like normal things. Like, words that should never be misspelled ...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Living in the United States currently means that as much as we might try to not get obsessed over the shit show that is our country right now, it seeps in like a noxious gas. So we figured - might as well make use of it!! In this episode, we discuss how all the characters in the canon might have voted in this last round of US elections. Some are harder to figure out than you might think!! ALSO!!!! We were chosen as Number 2 of the 20 Best Shakespe...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Have YOU ever seen a production of Cymbeline??? Owen hasn't, and Lisa Ann has only seen it once. HOWEVER!!!! We ARE seeing it at The Globe in London in March, and we decided to delve a little further into the play that really is quite seldom done. NOTE: LA is sounding rough from the shittiest flu EVER. Apologies. (Sneeze, cough, wheeze, rasp.) To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com&nb...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Happy 2025, listeners!!! What are YOUR resolutions for this new year?? We have some... but more importantly, what resolutions do the characters in the canon have?? In this episode we discuss those and play some resolution=quotes from plays=what character and play games. Whoooo Hooooo!!! Happy New Year, you dicks!! (And dickesses!!) To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support u...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! As a follow up to our last episode, today we discuss the best roles in the Shakespeare canon. SPOILER: There are A LOT more good ones than bad ones. Check out Season 2 Episode 41 for our "A Visit From Saint Falstaff!!!" Merry and Warm Everything and Happy New Year - you dicks and dickesses!!! (I - LA - want to note here that my laptop always changes dickesses to dickenses, which is amazingly appropriate this time of year.) To send us an email - please do, we t...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Whoever said there are no small roles, only small actors... is full of shit. YES THERE ARE!!!! There are hundreds of small roles in the Shakespeare canon, and a lot of them SUCK. (As do some not so small roles.) In this episode, we slap that stupid phrase right out of the proverbial mouth and discuss all the roles we can think of that fit this particular (crappy) bill. To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcast...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! "Travelers ne'er did lie, Though fools at home condemn 'em." - Antonio, The Tempest, Act III Scene 3 Oh, the traveling life...

Sent us a text, you dicks!! Well.......................... It happened. And we're none too pleased about it. But we have to move forward. Kind of. So this episode is - ostensibly - about where we see parallels in the Shakespeare canon. Enjoy. If you are able. To send us an email - please do, we truly want to hear from you!!! - write us at: thebardcastyoudick@gmail.com To support us (by giving us money - we're a 501C3 Non-Profit - helllloooooo, tax deductible donation!!!) - per epis...