Love is a Familiar; Love is a Devil
-Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost
Through Shakespeare from the Ground’s Monologue Project, we shine a spotlight on Shakespeare’s speeches from our favorite characters who might not be mainstream but have meaning, make commentary, or mark a change within the play.
Love's Labour's Lost follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to swear off the company of women for three years in order to focus on study. When the Princess of France arrives on a state visit, the king insists she and her three ladies camp outside the court. Even with the appropriate social distancing, the King and each young man falls in love with one of the ladies. As it turns out, Don Adriano de Armado, a visiting soldier from Spain, also finds himself at love’s door.
When asked why he chose this monologue to present, Ryan Puffer said, “During my last semester at Northern State University, I got the honor to play Don Adriano de Armado in Love's Labour's Lost, so when [Shakespeare from the Ground] asked me to do a monologue for them, it's no surprise that this speech by this character was my first choice. I connect to Armado since he is a Clown who is filled with deep, bottomless emotion….But unlike other pieces by comedic characters, this monologue shows something more: that even clowns have that deep desire to feel love and connection. Deciding what to do with overwhelming feelings is something everyone deals with and this piece shows his battle with 1) admitting that he is in love and 2) what to do with these feelings once they are determined.”
Locally, Puffer has directed The Misanthrope, assistant directed Billy Elliot, and worked as the La Crosse Community Theatre Box Office Manager for several years.
Ryan Puffer as Don Armado in Love’s Labour’s Lost:
THE MONOLOGUE: LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, ACT I, SCENE 2, DON ARMADO BY RYAN PUFFER
“I do affect the very ground, which is base, where
her shoe, which is baser, guided by her foot, which
is basest, doth tread. I shall be forsworn, which
is a great argument of falsehood, if I love. And
how can that be true love which is falsely
attempted? Love is a familiar; Love is a devil:
there is no evil angel but Love. Yet was Samson so
tempted, and he had an excellent strength; yet was
Solomon so seduced, and he had a very good wit.
Cupid’s butt-shaft is too hard for Hercules’ club;
and therefore too much odds for a Spaniard’s rapier.
The first and second cause will not serve my turn;
the passado he respects not, the duello he regards
not: his disgrace is to be called boy; but his
glory is to subdue men. Adieu, valour! rust rapier!
be still, drum! for your manager is in love; yea,
he loveth. Assist me, some extemporal god of rhyme,
for I am sure I shall turn sonnet. Devise, wit;
write, pen; for I am for whole volumes in folio.”
MORE ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE PROJECT
Our goal of Shakespeare from the Ground’s Monologue Project is to collect a library of Shakespearean monologues to share with our community for virtual entertainment while we are still socially distanced. You don’t need to be a professional actor to participate. If you’re inspired and ready to record, great! If you need help selecting your Shakespeare Monologue or getting it recorded, reach out and we’ll help you get the ball rolling. Are you ready to take to the boards once again…virtually?
