(Notice this painting has Will wearing an earring. Look closely at Joseph (sigh) Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love...he wears one too!)
We all know William Shakespeare's works are stuffy, dry and dusty. Right?
WRONG! This is a common misconception of people who have been victimized by teachers who merely present the Bard that way. Luckily, some of us, myself included, have had teachers who have worked hard to bring Shakespeare to life. My high-school senior class teacher, Matthew Carr, had us present abbreviated versions of Shakespeare's comedies in any setting we liked. Our group presented Midsummer Night's Dream in Woodstock, with tie-dyed clothing. The line "Oh, monstrous! Oh, strange!" became "Oh, monstrous! Oh, strange! WHOOOOOAAA!" I was Helena.
Projects such as these free Shakespeare from traditional constraints and help students see the true life and vitality that lies beneath Shakespeare's best plays and characters. Too many teachers drone on and on about Shakespeare being the world's greatest playwright, without giving students a single reason to believe he was. I hope to duplicate the "good" teachers and make Shakespeare easier, more understandable, and more accessible.
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