Hey everyone!
Welcome to the Brave New Shakespeare
challenge from The Public Theater.
My name is Miriam A. Hyman aka Robyn Hood.
I'm an actress and a hip-hop lyricist. My
relationship with The Public stems back
to 2012. I booked my first production with them
straight outta graduate school
and it was RICHARD III with the Mobile
Unit and I played the character of
Clarence.
Last summer, I was in the world premiere
production of SOCRATES by Tim Blake
Nelson and I played the character Xanthippe.
More recently, you can hear me as the role Bolingbroke
in RICHARD II and we did that via radio
broadcast with WNYC
in collaboration with The Public Theater.
The piece that I'm going to do for you
today
comes from RICHARD II as the character
Bolingbroke.
As I was banished, I was banished Hereford;
But as I come, I come for Lancaster.
And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace
Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye.
You are my father, for methinks in you, 
I see old Gaunt alive. O then, my father,
Will you permit that I shall stand condemned
A wandering vagabond, my rights and royalties
Plucked from my arms perforce and given away
To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born?
If that my cousin king be king in England,
It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster.
You have a son, Aumerle, my noble cousin.
Had you first died and he been thus trod down,
He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father
To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay.
My father's goods are all distrained and sold, 
And these, and all, are all amiss employed.
What would you have me do? I am a subject,
And I challenge law. Attorneys are denied me,
And therefore personally I lay my claim
To my inheritance of free descent.
Well that was fun. I mean, come on, who
doesn't love a little bit of Shakespeare.
And now it's your turn. We invite you to
take on the Brave New Shakespeare
challenge. Be safe, wash those hands, and remember to
take care of yourself
and others. See you soon!
