Middleton!!!

The Oxford Middleton, that Chinese Democracy of scholarly works, is still in my possession, and I am even less able now to purchase my own copy. (Wait, does that comparison make Gary Taylor the Axl Rose of academics?) I did read the introductory material this summer. (And I should totally count that as a book read-- it was long!) I also just realized that Measure for Measure is in the table of contents. The claim is that the version of the play that we now have is a version of Shakespeare's text as updated and 'spruced up' by Middleton. I think this makes a lot of sense and might go towards explaining why Measure for Measure is so bizarre.

Anyway, now I've started A Yorkshire Tragedy. This is part of the Shakespeare apocrypha and though the attribution has fallen out of favor I have seen it in the Shakespeare section of some libraries. Anyway, this is an anonymous play that hasn't been definitively attributed to anyone; Middleton is just a likely contender. Also, this play seems kind of awesome.
Reasoning for Awesomeness:
1. It is short... way shorter than MacBeth It was apparently intended to be performed with three other short plays. Kind of like a one-act play festival. Or a variety show.
2. It is 'ripped -from-the-headlines' or at least the pamphlets. The real life fillicide is the inspiration not only for a Yorkshire Tragedy but also the Miseries of Enforced Marriage. I only knew of this play because of its awesome title, but apparently it has a happy ending where no one gets murdered and we learn that young men should be able to marry who they choose. Also it is written by Wilkins. I think this is the same probably Shakespeare collaboratin', possibly pimpin' Wilkins from Shakespeare on Silver Street. Actually he's kind of let me down with his happy ending. Bring on Middleton! Bring on the murder!

To Be Continued... When I finish the play.

PS: Triple Awesome... I am reading a blog post by someone named Mathew Biberman. He looks at Forman's diary entry on MaBeth and speculates that not only did Middleton cut and alter the play far more drastically than most scholars believe, but that "the play Middleton left us is one that was very probably much improved."
Biberman, whoever you are, that is awesome!