Has Michael Caine ever appeared in a performance of Shakespeare?

QUESTION: Has Michael Caine ever appeared in a professional performance of Shakespeare? 

Michael Caine has never played Shakespeare on stage. His only serious Shakespearean role was as Horatio in the BBC's 1964 Hamlet At Elsinore, directed by Philip Saville.

As Caine explained in his autobiography, The Elephant To Hollywood: 'In my one and only classical role I played Horatio to Christopher Plummer's Hamlet in a film for television. 

'I'd had no dramatic training and had always felt that Shakespeare was not for me, but I soon found myself bound up with the story and I decided that if my on-screen appearance was going to be an issue, then I would use it to bring out all Horatio's ambiguous sexuality.'

The reference to Caine's sexuality was because Zulu producer Joseph E. Levine had just cancelled Caine's contract with Embassy Pictures following the release of Zulu because he felt he was too effeminate for a leading man. 

It was ultimately good news for Caine, as Harry Saltzman loved Caine in Zulu and signed him up to star in The Ipcress File.

Zara Williams, Bristol

QUESTION: What message should we take from two of Jesus's teachings, The Parable of the Shrewd Manager and The Parable of the Persistent Widow?

The parable of the Persistent Widow, found in Luke 18:1-8, is relatively easy to explain.

It tells the story of a widow who repeatedly asks a pagan judge for justice, even though he first ignores her. The widow's determination eventually intimidates the judge, who then agrees to give her what she seeks. The parable's themes include justice, perseverance and faith in prayer.

The widow's refusal to back down shows the importance of advocating for justice and righteousness. She doesn't passively accept the world as it is, but instead seeks justice with such determination that she intimidates the judge, who in her society has all the power.

Tomorrow’s questions: 

Q: Did West Auckland Town FC once beat the mighty Juventus?

J. Rees, Ipswich, Suffolk

Q: Why is it that you cannot use metal in a microwave, yet the appliance itself is lined with it?

Dr N. Ramanathan, Oughtibridge, South Yorkshire

Q: What is the ‘Muggins rule’of cribbage, as mentioned inan episode of All Creatures Great And Small?

Oliver Walsh, Basingstoke, Hampshire

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager (Luke 16:1-13) is less straightforward. It describes a dishonest manager who, facing dismissal for mismanagement, reduces the debts of his master's clients to gain their favour.

Surprisingly, where some might see this as deceit or downright theft, the master commends the manager for his shrewdness.

This parable has been interpreted in various ways. Still, its central message emphasises the importance of using worldly wealth wisely and preparing for the future (Luke 16:9). Jesus contrasts the 'children of this world', who act shrewdly in their dealings, with the 'children of light' (believers), urging the latter to use their resources in ways that reflect eternal values (Luke 16:8).

Scholars such as Craig S. Keener interpret this parable as a call to practise wise stewardship, using worldly resources to advance God's kingdom and help others. 

It encourages believers to be intentional and resourceful, focusing on eternal rewards rather than temporary gains. Although the manager's methods are not condoned, his forward-thinking approach is commended, underscoring the value of preparing for the future with the right priorities.

R. D. Smith, York

QUESTION: Is the word jovial related to the planet Jupiter?

The Greeks in ancient times observed that certain planets wandered through the heavens. They called these planets asteres planetai (wandering stars) and named them Phainon (Saturn), Phaethon (Jupiter), Pyroeis (Mars), Eosphoros (Venus) and Stilbon (Mercury). Roman astronomers renamed them after their gods.

Medieval astrologers held that people shared the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. Jupiter, also called Jove, was the chief Roman god and was considered on the one hand magisterial and authoritative but on the other the source of joy and happiness, that is, jovial.

Eventually, jovial was applied to anyone of good nature or high spirits, regardless of birth date.

Jove's opposite was Saturn, who gave us the word saturnine, that is, gloomy, morose and not cheerful.

Saturn was the most remote planet from the Sun (in the knowledge of the times) and thus coldest and slowest in its revolution. We also have martial (warlike) from Mars, mercurial (unpredictable) after Mercury, the fastest of the planets, and venereal 'of or pertaining to sexual desire' from Venus, goddess of love, although the word later came to be associated with sexually transmitted diseases.

Mark Fallon, Plymouth, Devon