Skyeler's Taming of the Shrew project

For this play, I put together modern outfits for the two sisters of the play, Kate and Bianca.

Bianca

 Kate

Kate, after her "transformation" by Pertruchio :)

Skyeler

The Taming of the Shrew

After the horrors of the Macbeth tragedy, we undertook another comedy, The Taming of the Shrew.  I was unfamiliar with this Shakespeare play.  Well, I had once seen on TV a movie loosely based on The Taming of the Shrew, but that was about it.  There were not many movie versions to choose from, so I went with the most popular...the 1967 Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton classic.  I enjoyed it, even if it was a bit dated.  The response to this movie was varied, and not because it was 1967!  What I didn't know was the strong reactions some of the kids would have toward Shakespeare's Kate and Petruchio!  I'm excited to read the play.  I'm also excited to delve into our Shakespeare in a Box at our next meeting, where we will act out a 45 min version of the play with a few props (found in the box).   All we did today was watch the movie as I was down with a bad case of bronchitis and had to go to the doctor.   Stay tuned for the blog projects ...

A Glimpse of the Future

Before beginning our next Shakespeare play, we had the opportunity to catch our local Shakespeare company's touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Our goal was to see as many Shakespeare productions on stage as possible during the year, whether we were studying them or not.  We will be studying A Midsummer Night's Dream, but not until May.  The touring production is unique.  It is the play they take to schools to perform.  Therefore, the whole play is put on by six cast members with minimal props.  It was hilarity itself!!!  Our group had front row seats and some of the cast actually interacted with us.  Aly LOVED that.  We all left the theater with aching jaws and sore stomachs from laughing so hard.  It was the best play I have ever seen. :)  I believe that many of the others felt the same.  Aly has declared it to be her favorite play.  It will certainly be hard to top this production!

32 Second Macbeth

We were excited to attend our local Shakespeare company's production of Macbeth.  Their production was immeasurably better than the movie version we watched.  With a modern, war time setting and one of our favorite actresses as Lady Macbeth, it was a hit!  ...though Lorin would have preferred a historical setting :)  It was so great to see it performed on stage while reading it!

After viewing the movie version. seeing the play on stage, and reading The Annotated Shakespeare's version of Macbeth, we met at our house to discuss it. 

There was plenty to discuss about the character of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, their motives and their madness.  And then there were the Weird Sisters.  Yes, the same Weird Sisters that the blog is named for.  The witches of Macbeth.  Did Macbeth do what he did because of his own motives?  Or did those Weird Sisters put the thought into his head because he believed they could foresee the future?  We also took time to compare the play with the movie we saw and the stage production.  In every way the stage production came up the winner!  Afterwards we shared favorite quotes and blog projects (which are already posted).  

Then I had an activity for us.  I found the 32 Second Macbeth here.  What a hoot!  It took a few tries for us to even get close to 32 seconds and us moms were the Weird Sisters :)  Macbeth is a tragedy.  The kids had so much fun "dying."  Lol!  Here they are all "alive."

And Calleigh, Tori, Skyeler, and Aly "dead" or "dying."

And only Elizabeth left standing!  I believe the "dead" were giggling a bit. :)

And for your viewing entertainment...the 32 Second Macbeth performed by The Weird Sisters and Puck.

Angel's Macbeth Quotes

"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes"  Act 4 Scene 1

"Stars, hide your fires!
Let not light see my black and deep desires."  Act 1 Scene 4

"Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day."  Act 1 Scene 3

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know."  Act 1 Scene 7

Lorin's Macbeth Quotes

Act 1 Scene 2 - "What, can the devil speak true?" - Banquo


Act 3 Scene 2 - "Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill." - Macbeth

Elizabeth's Macbeth Quotes

"Your face, my thane, is as a book."

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know."

"Take thy face hence."

I greatly enjoyed this play, one of my favorites.

Elizabeth