Do you consider something to be a Shakespeare adaptation if it features a female protagonist who dresses up as a boy? Is this basic concept now considered quintessentially Shakespearean? Or does there need to be an added je ne sais quoi to make it count?
That is the central question concerning the 1985 teen comedy Just One of the Guys, which the internet claims is loosely based on Twelfth Night. The phrase “loosely based” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in this case.
In this episode we consider the elements of Just One of the Guys that make the case for it being a Twelfth Night adaptation, how it deals with gender presentation in a more serious way than you’d expect from a goofy comedy, and whether teen comedies lend themselves in general to Shakespearean adaptation.
Happy new year, everyone!
Further Listening
Ep. 25: Shakespeare in Adaptation
Ep. 10: Twelfth Night and Gender Exploration
Credit where credit is due
Podcast art by Halie Branson
Music recording by josdvg