This is an unusual educational book; it's funny, provocative, and very readable. The author suggests that it is a reference book and so it is, but one that I was happy to read from cover to cover. Its engaging style meant that I immediately trusted the author with his rumbustious defence of teaching Shakespeare, and shared his opinion that the plays can be as boring as hell if they are taught with undue reverence. Cohen's book is written by a well-practised teacher, as keenly aware of his audience as an actor. His book is wholly student-centred and cuts to the chase about how a badly taught lesson can slay interest in the plays for ever. Shakespeare is the main theme, but teaching is at the heart of the book, and passages where Cohen pronounces that ‘timid teaching is my target’ have a resonance well beyond the English and Drama classroom.
Cohen addresses common student complaints such as ‘Shakespeare's too hard’ full-on in his chapter headings, and produces useful exercises and strategies (or ‘ploys’) for teachers to use as counter-punches. The book is directed at English rather than Drama teachers, reflecting Cohen's American audience – where there are far fewer Drama specialists – so much of Cohen's argument that Shakespeare must be performed to be understood might already be won in the UK drama teaching community. Nonetheless, the book is an excellent read for any drama teacher and I particularly enjoy Cohen's provocative style that begs you to meet the author and argue about the plays over a drink.