Thursday 19 June 2014

Hamlet's Soliloquy, Updated

Want a good laugh? Here's a hilarious version of Hamlet's famous speech "to be or not to be" as performed by the talented impressionist Jim Meskimen --



Watching this reminded me of a post I did a few years ago (back in the days before anyone actually read this blog, LOL) about a modern poem which paraphrases the same soliloquy. So what the hell, I'm into recycling -- here's that post again:

                               BBRNT2B? 2BORNOT 2BEE?
                               BBRNO2B? BBORNOT BEBE?
                               2BRNT2B? 2BRNTOB?
                               2BORWAT? CNTDCYD.
                               NDCISV. SLINGS. ARROWZ.
                               SEA OF TROUBLZ.
                               TODIE. PRCHNCE 2DREEEM.
                               YACKITY YACKYAK.
                               ITHINK 2MUCH. SHOULDI
                               MAYYBEE JSTDOIT?

                                                --Daniel Nussbaum,
                                                   from PL8SPK (HarperCollins, 1994)

Isn't this a great 20th century reinterpretation? Each of the poems in PL8SPK were written entirely from words and phrases contained on registered vanity plates in California. When I first read this poem 20 years ago, it seemed extraordinarily weird (if fascinating). It took me some major deciphering to be able to read it. But now in a culture of texting and even (dare I say it?) lolspeak, it looks pretty darn normal and hardly unusual. In fact, now it's easy to read! And it's still funny!

24 comments:

mxtodis123 said...

Welcome back. Your daily dose of humor has been missed.
Mary

Pickleope said...

That video was weird for me. It was like watching Patrick Stewart's brother do a Morgan Freeman impression.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

this is so cool!! i just love it!

Jenn said...

This is great...scary how we've adapted to reading things that look nothing like real words. I was surprised to read about the big changes in your life...and happy to read that all is well :)

DEZMOND said...

I wonder if anyone has 2BORNOT2B car plates on their car?

Jeanne said...

Isn't it amazing how the human brain works? Being able to decipher sheer garbage! Oops! that's the tv I was thinking of....

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh you are right, its amazing isn't it, we are a changing breed, we are being conditioned to look at things differently,
that is cool,

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

You and your sense of humor has been greatly missed. I loved this piece. Isn't it funny what we get accustomed to in this crazy world??

SUZY8-TRACK said...

That was awesome!

Anonymous said...

1) welcome back
2) funny stuff
3) missed you
4) I love bumper stumpers
5) and lists

Jim said...

I think Shakespeare would LOVE this!! Don't you?

yellowdoggranny said...


i love it this...missed you...glad your back.

Unknown said...

hahaha I'm a nerd, used to love L33T SP34K but it's been awhile! I didn't think I was going to see that today, thank you!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Ok this is hilarious on several dozen levels :) I loved it!

LL Cool Joe said...

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that quite a few of the actors I didn't know. Sigh, but he was great on the ones I did! :D

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Hahaha...too funny!

Perhaps if Shakespeare lived in this day and age, this is how he would have done things :)

The Happy Whisk said...

Bummer. I cannot watch the video from here.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! It's cool!

Vanessa Morgan said...

How AWESOME is this. I really had the impression I heard the real people talking here. Imitated to perfection.

Welcome back, by the way :-)

klahanie said...

Nice 2 C U :)

This was very weird and a fit of fun was just the tonic I needed.

Have a nice weekend, eh.

Gary :)

Unknown said...

welcome home !!
shocked how easy that all is to read x

Magic Love Crow said...

Welcome back ;o) Missed you and your humour ;o)
I can't believe I could read this list! Crazy! Take Care ;o)

Guillaume said...

Very funny. And we can't really have enough Shakespeare.

Riot Kitty said...

Good to hear from you! The plates are hilarious...