The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1530 Thursday, 15 September 2005
[1] From: Rolland Banker <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 14 Sep 2005 17:46:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subj: Midsummer Night's Dream and High Schools
[2] From: Susan St. John <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 14 Sep 2005 18:54:52 -0700
Subj: Re: SHK 16.1500 Midsummer Night's Dream and High Schools
[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rolland Banker <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 14 Sep 2005 17:46:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Midsummer Night's Dream and High Schools
Jodi D. Clark asks,
"I am currently working on a project regarding the pedagogy of _A
Midsummer Night's Dream_ and have run across a fact that consistently,
this play is one of the most performed plays in high schools, ever. Why
is that? What elements about it lend it to being so agreeable to high
school productions?"
ANSWER: PUCK
An original country folk character with a name that matters.
It's so easy becoming adept at Shakespearean analysis.
Best cheers,
Rolland Banker
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Susan St. John <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Wednesday, 14 Sep 2005 18:54:52 -0700
Subject: 16.1500 Midsummer Night's Dream and High Schools
Comment: Re: SHK 16.1500 Midsummer Night's Dream and High Schools
Jodi D. Clark asks "What elements about [Midsummer] lend it to being so
agreeable to high school productions?
First - it deals with young people falling in and out of love, and
defying their parents. This is a topic that high schoolers are already
experts in!
Second - the fairies are wide open to interpretation so the director can
go wild, and give a lot of actors the chance to get some stage time
without feeling like they are 'only a spear-carrier'.
Third - there are essentially four stories going on (Duke/Hippolyta, 4
lovers, rustics, and faires) - a big cast but only a few rehearsals that
actually need a large numbers of students in attendacne. This is very
attractive to a high school director!
Fourth - it is SHAKESPEARE so it makes everyone feel oh-so-very
educational, yet it is fun and funny and light entertainment for the
audience.
Fifth - Many drama teachers are just as afraid of Shakespeare as their
students are, so they go with what they know, which is the one Shakes
THEY did in High School! It's a Catch-22, self-propagating circle :-)
That's the opinion of THIS High School Drama teacher. I am currently
directing TEMPEST myself. I've taught high school for 12 years and in
that time our school has produced MND twice (not directed by me though).
It's a good one and the kids love it...but our students have also
produced Macbeth, 12th Night, Two Gents, and R&J, and
read/studied/worked on characters and scenes form Winter's Tale, Shrew,
and Othello. AND we compete at the Utah Shakespeare Festival's high
school competition every year. I like to think that I am training
well-rounded Shakespearean actors and scholars!
Susan St. John
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