Engaging Review/Final Exam

Wow.  First off, I cannot believe the semester is over. This FLEW by! Probably one of the most engaging semesters I've had (no pun intended). This class was a really creative and interesting way to learn about Shakespeare, and I really feel like I have learned a ton!

I would like to refer to my Mid-Term Assessment Post, because my sentiments on how I met the learning outcomes are very similar now as they were then. With some small differences:

The collaborative and social learning outcomes before the midterm were mediocre. I feel like I would comment minimally on my group members' blogs. During class we would definitely have meaningful discussions, but always commenting electronically was sometimes difficult for me.

My group for the final project did a TON of collaboration. Every single person contributed to the project usefully, and consistently. I had a blast with the cast, while still being productive. We had many discussions having to do with what themes of Shakespeare's we wanted to convey, and why. We really dove into texts; I even ended up reading an additional play (Romeo and Juliet) in preparation to write the script.
Six creative brains are far better than one, and I feel like because of that, we ended up with a great show!

Before, I had a hard time getting into the social learning aspect, and reaching out through the internet. None of my comments were commented on... none of the links I posted brought anyone to my blog (that I know of, I guess. But no one commented, so I'm assuming). 

However, I think our final project is very sharable! I'm going to make a complete/edited version of the script, and I think I'm going to try and distribute it. There are several small theater companies and high schools (including my own) in Colorado, who I'm sure would really love such a project. I think our show is a great way to get people interested in Shakespeare, who might not have otherwise been--that's the point right?!

I feel like the "Lovers of Shakespeare" project really embraced the learning outcomes of this class: because of it:

• I gained literacy, no question. literally pouring over scripts, comparing and contrasting his language and portrayals of characters, I learned a lot. 
• I analyzed critically. Picking very specific speeches for very specific reasons. At least in my head I was analyzing every line.
• Engaging creatively was the name of the game. That was pretty much the PURPOSE of the show.
• I hope we shared it in a way that was meaningful. I know at least the class enjoyed it, and if I can get it distributed, as is the current plan, hopefully we can share it on a much broader scale!

So Dr. Burton,

THANK YOU.

for the work you've put into US, so that we could put work into learning Shakespeare.

words words review

I saw the mask club "words words words" on thursday. A student-run, student-directed, black-box show, taking three shakespeare plays, and cutting across several scenes of each...

 It was basically a 30 minute version of our show with some VERY distinct and important differences. 

1) the three shows were Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and Much ado about Nothing. 

for obvious reasons that's different. (ours is R+J, Hamlet, and Love's Labour's)


2) their theme was not examining what shakespeare thought of love, but was examining communication.


while I understood their attempt, I did not understand the followthrough. What I got was a series of stories involving a serious lack-of-communication. 


3) their couples were in grey, white and black, which echoed the feeling of their show, I guess.


our color scheme (red, yellow, and blue) is much more fun, and well... colorful. which hopefully sets the tone for our more upbeat production.


4) their show was intended for serious drama, and to evoke intense emotion... i think...


ours is to laugh at ourselves, the ways love can go wrong, and hopefully add enough of a modern twist to shakespeare that people who wouldn't normally think to look at shakespeare, might think again. We want to bring Shakespeare literacy to a level that any person can understand, be entertained, and enjoy the show/shakespeare.


you can find more about our show on our group blog

The Better to See you with...

GLOUCESTER gets his eyes gouged out. This is not a normal thing, even for Shakespeare. 

This horribly, bloody, terrible event that happens had to have a specific purpose.

we can see without our eyes.
"O dear son Edgar,
The food of thy abused father's wrath!
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'ld say I had eyes again!"- act IV scene I


He was blind metaphorically, and wrongly accused his righteous son, until he was blinded literally, and saw the truth. 

"What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes
with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in
thine ear" -act IV scene VI


Lear, in his mad, primal state, half lost his mind tells Gloucester still how there is life to see beyond what we experience only through our eyes. 


"Met I my father with his bleeding rings,

Their precious stones new lost: became his guide,
Led him, begg'd for him, saved him from despair;"

act V scene III

His newly lost eyes, became his guide. 

Gloucester pleads with his son, Edgar to let him stay and rot under a tree, and Edgar replies, 

"What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure

Their going hence, even as their coming hither-"act V scene II

Men must endure. 

This disturbing and unsettling play has a purpose in its gruesomeness. Even though our own mistakes create the misery in our lives, we must still go on. 

Updates!

We're basically going to look like this

Our show is moving along at a brilliant pace. We finally have the script. Officially done! There's one or two lines that need to be written in, but I wanted the cast to decide on the amount of modernness/length/intensity of these filler/recorded lines. But all of the ones we need memorized after thanksgiving are available to us! I added a potential ending onto our Group Blog, and hopefully will get some input on that.

I literally had a DREAM about the blocking for one of the Romeo and Juliet scenes. My head is IN the game! Can't wait for our first real read through today!

The REAL Schedule.

Date	Place	Time	Schedule
Nov. 17 (Thursday)	Stage! JFSB-B192	class	Finalize script/ending poem
Nov. 19 (Saturday)	Stage! JFSB-B192	1:00-3:30	Block
Nov. 29 (Tuesday)	Class	class	MUST HAVE LINES MEMORIZED. There will be a quiz.
Dec. 1 (Thursday)	Class	Class	Production elements meeting: Costumes, lighting, sounds/recordings, etc.
Dec. 3 Saturday (Maybe)	TBD	TBD	TBD (may or may not be out of town)
Dec. 5 (Monday)	STAGE JFSB-B192	8:00-11:00	Cast FHE
Dec. 7 (Wednesday)	STAGE	7:30-11	Dress rehearsal. (start at 8:00) Tell family and friends. We’ll need to practice for laughter etc.
Dec. 8 (Thursday)	Stage	Class	Final problems.
December 9	Stage	Call time: TBD (have room from 5-11)	OPENING NIGHT (and closing)

 I will print out our scripts and the schedule in one large rehearsal packet for everyone. 

More Solid Schedule

Love's Labours Rehearsal Schedule

Tis a little small, but hopefully readable. Let's talk about as a group whether or not we want to add some extra rehearsals there towards the end.

Date:	Tue. 15	Thur. 17	Sat. 19	Turkey Break	Tue. 29	Thur. Dec. 1	Sat. 3	Mon.5	Tue. 6	Dec. 8	Fri. 9
Sched.	Finalize Script	Finalize Script	REAL first read-through	No rehearsal	Must have lines MEMORIZED	Production elements meeting	(TBA) (might possibly be in NY)	Cast FHE! Problems	Problems	“	OPENING (and Brittni's bday)
Time	Class	Class	1-3:30	YAY	Class	Class	1-3:30	7-?	Class	+ 7-?	TBD

Let me know if any of these dramatically conflict with personal schedules.

p.s. I have more specific directors notes about blocking/cutting/acting notes etc. (Just so you know) but i don't want to post ALL of our secrets

Romeo Wherefore art thou?

Beginnings of final project research: Watched Zeffirelli version of Romeo and Juliet last night. Some very interesting stuff. (I gotta say, the pants were my favorite part.) My biggest concern-and--and this is a big concern--is how we're going to get the essence of the love story in three, one-and-a-half minute scenes. I have confidence that we can! I literally have the best group in the WORLD so I have no doubt we can accomplish this task.