Standing Ovation for Shakespeare

Any expectations I had for Shakespeare class were greatly exceeded.  Who knew Shakespeare could be so much fun?  I chose the class because I enjoyed Shakespeare's work, but I had never actually seen any of them in action.  I was curious to see how something that seemed so difficult to read and understand could be entertaining.

The moment that I realized the class' true potential was at the Pearl Theatre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  The director made the play so funny and so thoroughly enjoyable that it changed the way I read Shakespeare.  Before the play, I viewed Shakespeare productions as fancy theater for the wealthy and educated.  After the play, I understood that Shakespeare wrote his plays to entertain the general public, and quite genius entertainment, too.

When our final project was presented to us, I was beyond excited.  I was given the role of director for Act 2 Scene 1 of The Tempest.  As I read the scene, I tried to ignore the language gap between Shakespearan English and Modern English and what it revealed was pure entertainment.  At first read, the scene can seem dull and perhaps a bit confusing, but once it was acted out, the pieces fell together and it flowed marvelously.  The role was daunting, and I couldn't help feeling competetive towards the other groups, but ultimately I found it the most fun I had ever had in any English class.  It was a completely hands on and innovative way of teaching.

Shakespeare is amazing, but I wouldn't have been able to see Shakespeare's dirty, raunchy humor or understand his existential rants without Mr. Kiczek.  I would do it all over again!  No longer do I view Shakespeare as some kind of elitist writing, but as Shakespeare meant for it to be, entertainment.