The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.2701  Friday, 30 November 2001

[1]     From:   Stuart Manger <
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        Date:   Thursday, 29 Nov 2001 18:46:46 +0000
        Subj:   SHK 12.2692 Re: High School Productions

[2]     From:   Virginia Byrne <
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        Date:   Thursday, 29 Nov 2001 18:50:55 EST
        Subj:   Re: SHK 12.2692 Re: High School Productions


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Stuart Manger <
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Date:           Thursday, 29 Nov 2001 18:46:46 +0000
Subject: Re: High School Productions
Comment:        SHK 12.2692 Re: High School Productions

I agree with Mr. Houck:

14 weeks is a major luxury, and I certainly do NOT agree with Jay
Johnson that there is insufficient time for a full-length Shakespeare.
My place regularly do Shakespeare in 8-9 weeks with 8 hours a week only
as rehearsal times, three -four performances, up to three hours per
night.

BUT

I imagine it must be a matter of how the college actually organises,
what the profile of performing arts is in that college, and the
commitment by the students to the idea of moving Shakespeare out of the
classroom and onto the stage?

There are indeed excellent and useful single act / hugely cut versions
of the plays perhaps more for classroom introduction, but does anyone
share with me the view that to use such versions as a college / high
school main show is a tad patronising to both casts and audiences? Or
perhaps this method is more of a tradition in US colleges and high
schools than it might be in UK? Very interested in responses.

Stuart Manger

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Virginia Byrne <
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Date:           Thursday, 29 Nov 2001 18:50:55 EST
Subject: 12.2692 Re: High School Productions
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.2692 Re: High School Productions

I produce full length Shakespeare plays  in a 7 week period..2
afternoons a week  2 hours a day..they  are bright and the shows are
strong

they are young ..have very little in their random access memory..I
emphasize character and language..they GET it

The question is..what is your goal?A superb production

or

Teaching  the cast  passion for the plays and the audience appreciating
it because it is their peers (our English dept requires attendance)

V Byrne

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