It was 10 o’clock at night, after a full day of touring New York City, and I worried that my youngest child would fall asleep during the production of Dream, an adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Instead, he was on the edge of his seat guffawing with laughter.
Actually, we were all laughing at that point. The young cast of this Downtown Art production, under the direction of Ryan Gilliam, had put on a delightful performance.
This comedic tale of romance and parental disobedience has been “infused with Celtic tales of mischief and magic.” Irish fairies snatch babies and use magic potions to redirect love and turn a man into a donkey. The talented teens drew us right into the story, and kept us completely engaged throughout.
Our kids loved the show, even 8-year-old Alex.
This was his first time seeing a full production of a Shakespearean play and I was concerned that he wouldn’t understand or enjoy the show. A couple of times, Alex had to ask for the definition of words like “woo.” And the language was difficult to follow: a Shakespearean English delivered with an Irish accent. Mostly, I was mistakenly thinking that Shakespeare is only for older children and adults.
In truth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is perhaps the most accessible Shakespearean play for children. This particular production was an excellent introduction to theatre and the Bard’s work.
I’m glad Alex had a chance to just enjoy the magic and wonder of Shakespeare, long before it is a sometimes dreaded required topic in high school.
Of course, this successful introduction is just part of an ongoing learning campaign.
Introduction
Alex’s first introduction to Shakespeare was in Preschool as one of a group of Elizabethan dancers. For the past six years, Sean Fagan has put on an annual extravaganza that brings the entire Robert C. Parker school community into an amazing performance of Shakespearean theatrics. This year, Alex returned to Parker as a member of the audience watching his sister in an excerpt from The Taming of the Shrew.
The Globe
Another exposure was on our European vacation in 2005, when we took a guided tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. We weren’t able to get show tickets, and didn’t really want to tackle a crowded, standing-room only, performance with a 5-year-old. However, the tour provided fascinating insight into Shakespeare’s world. Also, the shop had a wonderfully comprehensive collection of books on everything and anything to do with Shakespeare.
My kids picked up a book on Shakespearean insults that has remained a treasured source of their wit.
Our Books on Shakespeare Collection
Shakespeare: The Basics by Sean McEvoy is a good way to quickly pick up an overview and essential information on any of the Shakespearean plays. I keep it as a reference to jumpstart my faulty memory.
Shakespeare: The Bard’s Guide to Abuses and Affronts – This is my kids’ treasured resource on Shakespearean insults.
Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. – These short story versions of the plays are a good way to share the story before seeing one of these plays. It includes: The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, King Lear, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello.
Welcome to the Globe!: The Story of Shakespeare’s Theater (DK Readers: Level 4) is a a colorful, well-illustrated introduction to Shakespeare’s world.
Shakespeare’s Globe: The Guidebook contains all the details on this historic theatre.
William Shakespeare & The Globe by Aliki – The story of the Globe is told as if it were a play that is illustrated as if it were a beautiful comic book.
Mr. William Shakespeare’s Plays presented by Marcia Williams is a cartoon retelling of the following plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, and The Tempest.
Other Resources
Shakespeare Movies For The Family – A guide to movie versions of Shakespeare’s plays that are appropriate for children.
The Globe’s Online Learning includes a virtual tour of The Globe and the opportunity to follow an actor through a season.
Folger Shakespeare Library – Online games, challenges, and educational resources.
Shakespeare Are Kids – Do Your Own Shakespeare allows kids to virtually participate in a play and a teacher’s section with tips for K-8 educators.
Surfing the Net with Kids: William Shakespeare – Lots of kid-friendly fun and educational links.
Future Exposure
We plan to continue finding opportunities to enjoy Shakespeare’s plays, and perhaps pick up a few pointers on creating stories that can stand the test of time.
I can’t wait for the Shakespeare in the Park Series!
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