the brew*crew adventure

I am so behind in blogging, that though I'd downloaded these pictures to my MAC right after we saw this spectacular rendition of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, just a couple of weekends ago, I'm only just now getting around to uploading them to flickr, and including the entry here in our homeschool journal. The show was held in the outdoor ampitheatre of Bays Mountain Park, our city's huge wildlife reserve park, and I must say that it was the perfect setting! The costumes and acting were both wonderfully creative, and held our rapt attention throughout.

I'm so glad for having been inspired by the suggestion of Ambleside Online's advisory to include a rotation of Shakespeare readings in our kids' literary repertoire each year, and even great childrens' versions of the plays to read to them, else I honestly probably never would have thought to do it. Though we haven't stuck to the suggested rotation this year, we have read a couple per our own interest in random order. I've been pleasantly surprised to find how much my children have enjoyed hearing me read from the Tales from Shakespeare book that we have (another great score from Paperback Swap), by Charles and Mary Lamb (you may read it online here, or you may read the original play here).

N and T were enamored with The Merchant of Venice, and didn't ever want me to quit reading when we came to a stopping point. We had quite a few interesting discussions as a result of reading it as well (as anyone familiar with that story can imagine). Chris and I enjoyed watching Al Pacino star as Shylock in the 2004 movie rendition of the story (though in our opinion, it's definitely not for kids, excellent movie).

Most recently, we're reading Lamb's telling of A Midsummer's Night Dream, and were delighted to be able to attend this production of the play put on by a local theatre guild here, with a few home schoolers performing! Indeed, Shakespeare's characters came to life, and it was a delight to hear the play performed in its entirety and original language! It was also neat to see how engaged all the kids there were. They followed along with the story-line of the play just fine, even with all of its complex, Shakespearean, foreign-sounding language. Its truly so much better to SEE Shakespeare come to life, as its being played out on a stage, than just to read it! It was a first for me as well! I was even inspired to go back and read the original play myself. It was an absolutely hilarious performance, had us all laughing out loud numerous times!

Welcome to Estaria!

Our plays take place in Athens, in the fantasyland of Estaria. Aztec influences represent the excitement and danger dwelling within the forest outside of town. Indian influences represent the exotic beauty and romance evident everywhere in town and in the mystical forest. Be prepared to take a journey of your life when these influences collide.

~ from the Play Program

Quince

I must say that Puck was my favorite character... N and T agreed.

T said, "My favorite part of the play was how Puck lost her way around every time she had to go somewhere. She was kind of weird too."

T also said that the Yellow Fairie, Mustard-Seed, was her favorite (who happens to have been played by a good friend of hers...hmmm...)

And the clown ("weaver with a passion for acting", who played Pyramus) was well played by a home school Dad...

N said that his favorite part was the comical play, within the play (which was not included in Lamb's version), performed for Theseus (the reigning duke of Athens) and his wedding party in the end, that the above picture is a scene from.

But Titania, the Fairy Queen's costume was my favorite... and the Fairy King, Oberon's costume was fabulously done as well! Aren't those wings imaginative?!

Helena speaking to Demetrius and Lysander... they all really did such an amazing job of acting!

Click here to see the rest of my pics from this evening at the theatre.

Click here to read more on the Questions of:

What is the purpose for using Shakespeare? What are the educational benefits? What about some of the questionable situations in his plays?

I really enjoyed Lindafay's post, "What's So Great About Shakespeare?" and will just say... Yeah, what she said!

Trackback URI |