as you like it

While Dan was on his way to the mountains and tropical forest of Ecuador, the children and I went to see Shakespeare's "As You Like It" performed by the Richmond Shakespeare Company. Joshi has been studying this play with some other students for the past six weeks. The book the teacher used was "No Fear Shakespeare" which is a marvelous way to read Shakespeare for both young and old. On one side of the paper is the original script and on the other it is written out in modern language. Joshi loves it. Another good thing about these books is that they relatively cheap.

The play was okay. Joshi was bothered by how they strayed from the original story. I am looking forward to going to the American Shakespeare Center this week, http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/ The set is supposedly just like the Globe, so we will eat on our hard wood benches that surround the performance. Zayne shouldn't squirm too much while he has fried chicken in his lap and Joshi will be pleased that they perform the plays exactly as they did in Shakespeare's time.

Delving into Shakespeare this year has been surprisingly enjoyable. So far, I feel that we only have sampled a bit of what he has to offer. My only other exposure, aside from movies, was in my 8th grade Literature class where we read Romeo and Juliet. I think the fact that I thought both characters were stupidly shortsighted tainted me somewhat against the writer, plus the whole class was dull. Zayne says Shakespeare is all about love, lies, death and murder. Maybe he is right. I am just glad he is able to have some knowledge of the writings to form an opinion. I would add to Zayne's list cross dressing which seems to be a popular side theme is his plays.

For those of you who are planning on introducing The Bard to your wee ones take a look at our battle plan and see what you would like or not like to incorporate into you own plan.

1. Read picture books with the plays simplified for young readers. Act excited and make this time a fun snuggling time with Mom or Dad. Let them slow the story down to ask questions. The point is to understand, mull over and experience the story, not just get through it. Reading these stories provokes a lot of questions about human nature for young thinkers. Be patient and enjoy the time snuggling and conversation.

Bruce Coville does a great job with these short stories. http://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Bruce-Coville/dp/0803727089

2. Videos can be an added benefit if they do not deviate to much from the real story line. Scheshinger puts out some good ones, (as well as many other educational programs). Libraries should have several different adaptations to choose from.

3. Jump in with one of his short comedies. Children loved the lightheartedness of these comedies and, at least for my children, they do not get as excited over the more murderous plays such as Hamlet and Macbeth.

4. An intermediate interpretation of the plays is an other option. We read Charles and Mary Lamb's "Tales from Shakespeare", put out by Puffin Classics. This is easier than reading the plays straight up (unless you have former knowledge of Shakespeare), but I found that I still have to do a lot of explaining because it was first published in 1807 and my children, 8 and 10 yrs old, do not understand all of the wording or phrasing therein. But, do not what I said scare you. Their book is still great. The brother and sister writing duo retell the plays in story form while not losing the feel of Shakspeare's creative language.

Tales from Shakespeare:
http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Shakespeare-Puffin-Classics-Charles/dp/0613519019/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208664077&sr=1-5


5. Skip over parts if your kids start getting the "glassy eyed" look or the content is too graphic or sexual. I do the same thing reading the The Bible to them. Knowing who begat who is not necessary for their salvation.

With the "No Fear Shakespeare" Joshi can read on her own and get the benefit of the original, colorful language. Of course she can't write a twenty page discourse about her readings, but the point is she is actually enjoying her reading, excitedly shares with me things from the story and is getting the main idea and the beauty of this guy called The Bard of England. She doesn't like Romeo and Juliet either.

No Fear Shakespeare:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?ie=UTF8&rs=1000&keywords=no%20fear%20shakespeare&rh=n%3A1000%2Ck%3Ano%20fear%20shakespeare&page=1