The following is the text work session taken from the full episode with Tony.
In this excerpt, Tony discusses Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare. As Tony shares, it’s almost like an “anti-love” sonnet, that it makes fun of sonnets that are too flowery, as it has a very different tone and style with its message.
You’ll hear Tony discuss:
- how he approaches a pieces of text like this
- how he might set the scene in his mind when doing this
- why he loves this sonnet in particular
It’s a great session, and Tony also shares at length the balance you want to find between ideas and behavior when working on texts like this!
About the guest
Tony Amendola grew up in New Haven, Connecticut into a blue-collar family. He was the first member of his family to attend college, graduating from Southern Connecticut State University and then receiving his MFA from Temple University.
He has over 120 credits on film and TV, including as a series regular on Continuum, and recurring work on Stargate SG-1, CSI, Dexter, and Once Upon a Time as Pinocchio’s father Geppetto.
He’s appeared as the title character in Uncle Vanya and King Lear, as King Henry in Lion in Winter, and as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.
Tony was an associate artist, actor and director at the Berkeley Rep Theater for ten years. Regional theatre work includes the Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, ACT, the Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theater, CenterStage and the Oregon, California and Utah Shakespeare Festivals.
Voiceover work includes video games World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 15, and Call of Duty, and as the narrator of The Land Before Time XIV.
Please enjoy the text work with Tony Amendola!
Total Running Time: 15:54
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Want to hear more from Tony? Check out my full talk with him here!
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let us know in the comments.
Show Notes
Tony Amendola around the web
His Website | Twitter | Wikipedia | IMDb | Antaeus Company | Behind the Voice | Additional Theatre
- Hear Tony on the Utah Shakespeare’s podcast discuss his career and the role of King Lear
Selected People and Items Mentioned
- Dakin Matthews, Shakespeare scholar, teacher, and actor (and our past guest!)
- Tony in King Lear at Utah Shakespeare
- Armin Shimerman, who has spoken about playing each part three times (and our past guest!)
Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare
[accordion clicktoclose=”true”][accordion-item title=”+ click to view/close the monologue” id=sonnet130 state=closed]My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
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