I have a great affection for Orson Welles. His Humour, His Wit and above all his Humanity transpired in all his works. The man who is said to have played Shakespeare’s King Lear at the age of 12 was fascinated by the Old Bard. Watch him transform himself into Falstaff in this great Performance:
Description:
“Besides working in familiar forms, Welles renewed the cultural moment in new media. His appearances on TV talk shows enabled Welles to update Shakespeare as a popular figure. On the September 26, … “Besides working in familiar forms, Welles renewed the cultural moment in new media. His appearances on TV talk shows enabled Welles to update Shakespeare as a popular figure. On the September 26, 1968 Dean Martin Show, Welles made himself up as Falstaff, describing the character as ‘a great great grandfather of all the flower children.’ Welles delivered Falstaffs speech in praise of sack, describing it as ‘Shakespeares first and greatest of all commercials.'”
From Orson Welles Beacon and Exile/Gabriel M. Paletz
Orson Welles on Dinah Shore explains how performers work an audience (1979)
Recommended Readings:
Website: Orson Welles’s Shakespeare
By Darius KADIVAR
