Shakespeare Re-Told

Shakespeare Re-Told is an exceptional miniseries from BBC America released in 2005 that takes the revered classics of William Shakespeare and breathes a new life into them. The show is an ambitious venture, where Shakespeare's traditional tales are retold in a modern context, intertwining the timeless themes of the Bard’s works with contemporary society.

The four-part drama is less of a word-for-word adaptation and more of a reimagining of well-loved stories transposed into the present day. The creators have strived to design a series that marries the uniquely deep understanding of the human condition - that Shakespeare is famed for - with familiar elements of our modern lives. This link between the playwright’s timeless vision and our contemporary world makes it a unique experience that both Shakespeare aficionados and novices can appreciate.

Each of the episodes in the series corresponds to one play, and they include 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'Macbeth,' 'The Taming of the Shrew', and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' The new renditions retain the essence of each play, but creatively reposition the storylines in today's world, skillfully incorporating the structure, themes and language of the original texts into contemporary settings.

In Shakespeare Re-Told, 'Much Ado About Nothing' takes the form of a comedy set in a local TV newsroom, 'Macbeth' morphs into a thrilling tale in the context of a top-notch restaurant, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' gets transformed into a story set in a holiday resort, and 'The Taming of the Shrew' is told from the television production industry's perspective.

The series maintains the essence of the Bard's timeless themes – love, jealousy, ambition, betrayal, and tragedy, but frames them in a contemporary context. By doing this, it becomes more engaging to the present-day viewer, stripping the language and settings barriers that often hinder the understanding of Shakespeare’s works.

Acting-wise, a stellar ensemble cast brings life to these unique versions. It boasts a line-up of British acting royalty including James McAvoy, Billie Piper, Rufus Sewell, and Keeley Hawes, each providing standout performances that help these stories feel fresh and relevant more than 400 years after their initial creation.

One of the remarkable aspects of this series is how it resembles the original Shakespearean play feeling—a testament to the excellent acting, scriptwriting, and overall production values of the series. It remains faithful to the spirit and tone of Shakespeare's work while pushing the boundaries away from Elizabethan England into the modern UK, making it accessible to both traditionalists and those new to the Bards' plays. The script, while updated to modern vernacular, still retains echoes of the rhythm and eloquence of Shakespeare's original language.

Bringing Shakespeare into the modern age is no easy task, but Shakespeare Re-Told does so with seeming effortlessness. It strikes a balance between reverence of the source material and the requisite modernization necessary for this type of project. The stories maintain their weight while simultaneously evoking the laughter, tears, and thoughtfulness as intended in the original renditions.

Creatively exciting and insightfully intelligent, Shakespeare Re-Told is a brave interpretation of the original plays, breaking them free from the confines of language and historical context and giving them a new lease on life. It is a commendable homage to William Shakespeare, wrapped in a fresh and entertaining package that makes the timeless themes and stories of one of the world's greatest playwrights available in a form that is easier to relate to and understand.

As such, Shakespeare Re-Told is not only a tribute to the Bard but is a show that informs and delights, demonstrating that Shakespeare's influence and brilliance continue to be relevant in today's world. It represents a novel concept and a fascinating exploration of how centuries-old plays can transgress time and culture. Overall, it is an ambitious, exciting, and imaginative series that everyone, regardless of their familiarity with Shakespeare, can enjoy.

Although it's been more than a decade since its initial release, Shakespeare Re-Told remains an engaging watch, resonating with modern audiences, reacquainting them with the drama, passion, and complexities inherent in all of Shakespeare's works. It proves that the iconic playwright's stories were not solely meant for the era in which he lived, but for all times.