Welcome to the eighth episode of BORN READY, our Shakespeare Battle Royal featuring Shakespearean director and general expert Steve Boyle.

Inspired by Ira Glass’ tweet that “Shakespeare sucks.” And the (inevitable) subsequent freakout that happened online, we get into how and why Shakespeare’s plays are so widely produced and some issues that go along with that.

Steve explains the Humanist Mythology, and why Shakespeare has been elevated to something like a Prophet, and how his plays have become a point of shared experience and a cultural touchstone. Rob cites some Shakespeare producing stats, asks about not understanding some of the text, and why this once rowdy culture around his plays has turned intellectual and academic…and Steve has answers for all of it (and he quotes Tocqueville).

As always, thanks for listening, and if you’re digging the show please don’t hesitate to share it with everyone you’ve ever met.