It’s been over 400 years since the last new Shakespeare play was released, so it’s probably safe to say that his stuff holds up over time.  Countless productions of his plays have been put on during and after William Shakespeare’s lifetime, as well as many different adaptations.  His works have been referenced in many subsequent works, and have become part of the culture.  If you haven’t seen The Taming of the Shrew , you’ll still understand Kiss Me, Kate .  If you haven’t seen Romeo and Juliet , you’ll still understand West Side Story .  And if you haven’t seen Hamlet , you’ll still understand The Lion King (and Strange Brew , for that matter).  Shakespeare has permeated our culture, and some critics have even gone so far as to state that Shakespeare is beyond criticism. Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca in Star Wars , 1977; John Gielgud in the title role in Hamlet , circa 1960.  No, this is not a coincidence. There was one man, however, who decided that Shakespeare was most