When I was in tenth grade, high school curriculum mandated we study “Romeo and Juliet.” So we read and discussed the play, and although I did well on that particular unit, I didn’t get it. I felt as if I’d missed something in the writing. 
Then the teacher showed us the movie version. Click. Like big time click. I understood what I’d been missing-the interpretation, the setting, the whole enchilada. Shakespeare was meant to be heard and watched, not necessarily read. Although I am not an auditory learner, his works made much more sense to me through this medium.
For many years, I have gone to Shakespeare in the Park. (It does help the venue is close-by.) We go with friends and family, pack a picnic, bug spray, and our comfy folding chairs. Sometimes, even in July, we need a light sweater after sunset.
This troupe does a particularly good job of performing one comedy and one tragedy each season which lasts about six weeks. They add songs, dance numbers, set and dress in different eras. I truly hate to miss. This quote from “The Merry Wives of Windsor” tickled Handsome and me, “One. Two. Third.” I don’t know if Shakespeare wrote it, but it worked.
What’s your stance on Shakespeare? Love? Hate?
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Although I’m not Shakespeare, I am a writer and am writing a funny holiday story with those names. LOL. Here’s a tease:
Once I’d determined he couldn’t see or hear me, I rubbed my bruised side and turned on Melissa. “Did you have to hurt me?”
“Oh my goodness, Julianne, it’s not like I gave you a broken rib. You were beginning to sound like a lovesick cow.”
“Me? Not hardly.”
“Was, too. Or a lovesick Juliet. Moooooo.”
“Your bovine imitation is sorely lacking.” I shoved my fists to my hips. “Didn’t you just say I might meet my true love on the ship?”
“Yes, but I didn’t mean Romeo. Anyone but him.”
“Right.”
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Word by Word 
Hi Vicki, I enjoyed studying Shakespeare in school and have seen many of the plays at Stratford (just an hour away). Seeing the performances live adds so much to the experience. 🙂
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I agree, Joanne. When the boys studied Shakespeare in school, we watched the movie first and they understood it better.
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I didn’t “get” Shakespeare when I had to study the works in English Lit classes, but then I didn’t do well with anything that made me stay indoors!
We have a local Bard on the Beach in August, and I’ve never been, but this post is making me think perhaps I should give it a try 😀 Thanks!
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Hi, Kathryn! I do recommend watching versus reading. Sure, I still don’t get all the dialogue, but I do get better interpretations.
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Hi, Vicki!
For the first time, Shakespeare Dallas did a non-Sharespearean play: Quixote. It was a hoot! Imagine the man of La Mancha on a motorized wheelchair and Sancho Panza on an ice cream cart.
Liese
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Hi, Liese! I would have love to seen that one. I love how creatively Shakespeare is interpreted. Hugs!
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I enjoyed the read this morning, Vicki 🙂 I was a whiz in English grammar and literature in high school, but I did not enjoy reading Shakespeare. I do love the films based on his works, though. I’ve never had the pleasure of attending a live Shakespearean play..but,I would probably enjoy that, too 🙂 And, I think for those of us who didn’t enjoy him while in school, it was the verbiage, don’t you think? Lord, it must take a different type of brain to really get into that at a young age 🙂 Lo
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Hi, Loretta! And I agree on the verbiage part. I’m reading a historical book right now and the language is off-putting to a book club member. It’s almost too much. Yet, it fits the audience the author wanted to reach. So I trudged along and loved the ending.
I also agree with you on brain and age. Our brains are more suited to learn things at specific ages and Shakespeare is one of them. Could an elementary school age kid get him?
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Sugar, I have no idea if an elementary age kid could handle him or not. Just off the top of my head, I’d shake it with a fierce “no”. I don’t know about you, but I was into cops and robbers, and hide and seek at an early age, later on, I’d say more into movies like “The Blob”. I doubt I would have slowed down to try and decipher Shakespeare! I did read a lot of Walter Farley and Jack London, though. lol
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I would have been Shakespeare who? Maybe the comic book version??? LOL. I was into Nancy Drew bigtime.
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You have to hear it, then it comes alive. However, reading it aloud [at school] somehow doesn’t work.
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Hi, MMcewenasker! I agree! And that’s from this non-auditory learner. Perhaps reading aloud in school is because students and/or teachers aren’t professional actors. Combined with the pageantry, then Shakespeare comes alive. Thank you for stopping by.
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I have to admit, I kinda liked Shakespeare when we studied it in high school. But we had fun with (mis)interpreting the famous passages we had to memorize–especially the guys in class. I didn’t get a real appreciation of him, though, until college.
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Hi, Barbara! I wish I had those kinds of guys in my class. Definitely more fun. I can’t remember studying Shakespeare in college and I had four semesters.
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I got lost in the dialogue, maybe seeing it live would help 🙂
Great post, Vicki, you’ve made me curious!
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Exactly, Jacquie! There’s more to Shakespeare than dialogue, there’s the pageantry! And in my case, a nice picnic to enjoy while watching.
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We had to study Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade. I remember it so vividly because the story of star crossed love resonated in my heart. We watched the original with Olivia DeHussy and I fell in love. In college, I took a class on Shakespeare and did find that unless I connected with the story, it was harder to follow. I loved the different genres but struggled with his poetry.
I loved Stratford too. Such a great place to see a play. The did a remake of Taming of the Shrew set in the 1950’s. So much fun!
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Hi, Melissa! I’ve not been to Stratford, but am betting it’s way neat to see a play there. I think I’d like seeing Taming of the Shrew set in the fifties. Think of the neat outfits and doowap music. Hugs!
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Each year of my four high school years there was a required Shakespeare read. Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and I can’t remember what the last read was. Good storylines, but couldn’t concentrate on the read.
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Hi, Angela! I am with you on the connection level; however, four years of Shakespeare? Where was Jane Austen?
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Hey, Vicki. Yes, I read Romeo and Juliet in high school, then performed some Shakespeare while in college. I was Desdemona’s maid and got to die. Pretty cool. I taught R & J to 9th graders. Not fun. I hate the play. It makes it seem like suicide is an okay option. Yes, you can discuss that issue with the kids, but still. ick. Not my favorite. I totally agree seeing the plays performed (either like you mention summer in the park–remember doing that when our girls were young or the movies) is better than reading either outloud or silently. /Once you get into the cadence, the words really roll. Sure you miss a few things, but overall the plays make an impact. I shared. 🙂
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Hi, Marsha! I’m impressed you played Desdemona’s maid. I’ve never acted except in first grade when I recited a holiday poem.
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I’ve always loved Shakespeare. I used to perform many of his plays in college. He knew people and the plays are as understandable today as they were then. People haven’t changed much. Great post!
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Hi, Ilona! He did understand people well and you are right, nothing has changed in some ways. I’m glad you liked the post.
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