Showing results by narrator "Morgan Murray" in All Categories

Together with The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most magical plays. One night, two parties creep from Athens into the surrounding forest. One includes sweethearts Lysander and Hermia, fleeing from Athenian law and the disapproval of Hermia’s father to get married. In pursuit is Demetrius, the suitor of Hermia favored by her father, and the doleful Helena, formerly affianced to Demetrius.

As the generating force of its plot, Twelfth Night uses a device which has since become a staple in comedy: gender confusion. Viola and her twin brother Sebastian, are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, a country ruled by the melancholy Duke Orsino. The twins are separated and Viola is led to believe that her brother has perished. She disguises herself as a male under the name of Cesario and makes her way to the ducal court, where Orsino employs her as a messenger, to communicate his love to the reclusive lady, Olivia—who is not willing to return his affection.

In As You Like It, a wicked Duke expels his virtuous brother, the lawful ruler, from his domains. The banished Duke takes refuge with his followers in the Forest of Arden, where they live as free a life as did Robin Hood and his merry men.

Much Ado About Nothing appears to have been written about 1599, shortly before As You Like It and Twelfth Night. The action combines two narrative threads: the spirited comedy of the courtship of Benedick and Beatrice, and the somber tale of confused love between Hero and Claudio. The first is a creation by Shakespeare and the second appears to have been drawn from an Italian source, either by Bandello or Ariosto. The action takes place in Messina. Eponymous lovers Hero and Claudio seem to be ideally matched and nearly everyone is looking forward to their impending marriage.

This play is a dramatization of Boccaccio’s story of Gillette of Narbonne. Only the comic parts were of Shakespeare’s invention; he added the characters of the pusillanimous Parolles, the lofty courtier Lafew, the Clown Lavatch, and the long suffering Countess. He gave new depth and vitality to the leading characters, who are mere outlines in Boccaccio’s tale.

A unique and practical guide that will enable you to improve your marriage and turn it into a vibrant and fulfilling relationship, like it used to be! Dr. Orit Arbel shares her knowledge and experience and gives six essential tools to be used by partners, so they can go back to feeling love, being happy, getting past old arguments, and re-dancing the “couples dance”. These tools will teach you new and exciting strategies for making your relationship work.

Darryl Bumpass Sr., the self-investment speaker and certified life and motivation coach, writes in a most approachable manner about what it takes to enjoy the process of self-mastery. Inspirational by all means, the self-help book is a quick listen poised to change the listener forever if taken with the highest regard. Dedicated to bolstering how people view the pursuit of their dreams, Bumpass is a veritable author, teacher, and newfound friend to all who spend a few moments with his resourceful words.

Joshua Miller is great at being invisible, despite the insect-like wings protruding from his back and his knack for high-rise robberies. He's alone—the villain in his own story—and he likes it that way. But then Joshua unexpectedly meets Lexi on a job, and his simple, uncomplicated existence shifts. Where he sees only darkness, she shows him light.

A merchant of Syracuse has twin sons and buys twin servants for them. His wife, with one twin and one servant, is soon separated from him by a shipwreck, and comes to live in Ephesus. When grown, the other son and his slave start out to find their brothers, and the father, some years later, starts out in turn to find them. Once in Ephesus, an amusing series of errors begins.