Thursday, January 07, 2010

Another Big Lebowski Homage That Works

Sometimes Stumbleupon brings me an absolute treasure. Today was one of those days.

You see I found out that someone took The Big Lebowski and then rewrote it in the style of William Shakespeare in a work that they've entitled Two Gentlemen of Lebowski.



While there are some alterations (like there is no swearing and The Dude is The Knave), it is pretty faithful to the story. For instance, here is the first appearance of Joshua Quince or as he appears in the movie, Jesus Quintana.

QUINCE
Hail, masters! I crave thine able readiness
To be dealt with roughly, as the Sodomites.
For men of sport have noted that our play
In semifinal hour draws on apace.
By Jove! I’ll wager well, Liam and me,
To thrash thee soundly at the fair tourney.

THE KNAVE
Yea, well, that be, forsooth, thy opinion, sir.

QUINCE
Well; but be forewarn’d. It reach’d mine ears
That combustible Walter, o’ercome with rage
Did shed good sense, and raise his sword in play.
I fear not such jade’s tricks, an seeing ill,
Would snatch the burden from the jealous knight
And pierce his gizzard with the wrongful steel,
Points up, as said of Coriolanus.

THE KNAVE
Zounds!

QUINCE
Thou speakest rightly, sir. No man misdeals with Joshua Quince, by Jesu.


It is a fun and lively little romp through 1991 L.A. as filtered through the diction and sensibilities of Elizabethan England. Huzzah!

I wonder if civilization ended tomorrow and some future generation was to discover this reinterpretation of this man of his time and place, would they perhaps mistake it for the work of Shakespeare... his really lost play. I doubt it, but it would be cool if it happened in the distant future.

So check it out.

No comments: