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AnaB
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 12:57pm | IP Logged
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Well, we are almost finished with our term's first study of Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream. I'm not sure I'm crazy about Shakespeare's comedies. We LOVED Lamb's Tales of Shakespeare version. We bought an excellent copy of MSND on audio and it was hard to follow. We watched a movie, BBC, on MSND and it was a bit too sensual than we are comfortable with. We are ending our study with watching Mr. Magoo's version of MSND and my kids are rolling on the floor enjoying it very much. Too bad this is the only cartoon version of Shakespeare plays that we can find at the library.
I'm going to try to give it another go and study Twelfth Night. I don't know anything about it, except that maybe it's a good time to study it with the coming of Christmas and the real twelfth night.
Are there any must see movie versions of TN? I'd appreciate any Shakespeare help to make it more enjoyable.
Will my children be harmed if we just stick to the Lamb's version for the comedies?
THanks in advance!
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Oct 29 2007 at 8:17pm | IP Logged
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Ana,
I'm very sorry if the BBC MSND I recommended was too much for you!   I guess I let certain things go bc my kids are so little, they go over their heads... if you have older ones, probably not.
I was planning to do Twelfth Night next too. I have not seen, but am planning to get for Christmas, the 2005 version starring Helena Bonham Carter and Imogen Stubbs. I can let you know how that is....
The basic story is about a twin brother and sister who are separated in a shipwreck and each thinks the other is dead. They continue their lives, with the girl dressing up like a boy, and a series of funny mix-ups occurs when the brother turns up again.
You may want to read over the play and see if there's too much adult stuff in there. I plan to do so soon, bc. its been so long since I've seen it.
I think that sticking with Lamb's is just fine for younger kids. The main thing is to get them familiar with the plot for now and to let them know that Shakespeare is not some weird incomprehensible thing.
God bless,
CK
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AnaB
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| Posted: Oct 30 2007 at 7:36am | IP Logged
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Hi CK!
I think the BBC MSND was the most modest version that's probably out there, I think it's more the ages of my kids and the content of the plays isn't really for children when you think about it. You are so right, when they were younger, I wouldn't have thought anything about it. They are just at the age where they are starting to squirm and ask lots of questions like, "Why were they alone together in the woods?" "Why is the fairy's dress falling off?" etc.... The movie was VERY well done and made the language so much easier to understand. I do thank you for that recommendation. Keep them coming.
When we tried listening to the audio version, it went too fast. We couldn't really catch on to what was going on though we knew the basic plot from Lamb's.
But the kids loved the Magoo.... They laughed and finally got all the characters straight. They do use the other word for donkey J/A alot which I explained to them is a word that is used in a derogatory way nowadays, so please don't repeat it. (My daughter was so used to reading Aesop fables which do the same thing that I caught her retelling the stories very loudly to a group of younger girls during a break at church. She kept saying that word over and over and thought it was funny. Eecck! We all survived! )
Anyways, I'm still trying to grasp why Shakespeare is so necessary for this age? When I think about the content of the plays, it's not anything I would normally bring to my children, but because Shakespeare wrote it then it's okay? The Lamb's version is definitely so far more appropriate. I did study Shakespeare in high school (Hamlet and MacBeth) and enjoyed it because at that age I was able to really delve more deeply into it. But at this age, I'm still struggling with the "why" of it all. Any ideas?
Thanks so much for any help! I would not be doing Shakespeare at all were it not for your helpful suggestions!
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Oct 30 2007 at 7:55pm | IP Logged
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Ana,
this is a good question... there is no necessity of reading Shakespeare with your kids if you're uncomfortable with it... Go with your motherly instincts!
Shakespeare WAS writing for adults, not children.
CM does encourage Shakespeare for children, but watching plays that are too sensual or reading something "adult" is NOT what she had in mind. The beautiful language and interesting story were what she had in mind.
You could just wait till High School and that would be totally fine.
If you want to keep going though...
I'd suggest that you could learn a plot from Lambs, watch a cartoon version if available, and perhaps assign a speech to memorize, for those old enough. Each play has one or more famous monologues which can be taken out and used. For example, "the quality of Mercy," from the Merchant of Venice or The St. Crispin's Day speech from Henry V.
hth
Ck
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Oct 31 2007 at 8:05am | IP Logged
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CKwasniewski wrote:
| I was planning to do Twelfth Night next too. I have not seen, but am planning to get for Christmas, the 2005 version starring Helena Bonham Carter and Imogen Stubbs. I can let you know how that is.... |
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This Twelfth Night with Helena Bonham Carter and Imogen Stubbs is the best of the best. Marianna and I adore it. The music is amazing, the actors fabulous, the scenery phenomenal. I can't rave enough about it. Excellent on all points.
But. Read the customer reviews on Amazon, Ana. I'm not certain if you'd enjoy reading a gender-bending comedy of mistaken identity.
If your children are concerned with wandering lovers in the woods, then a girl dressed as her dead (but not) brother bathing her/his male best friend whom she/he is desperately in love with while discussing his love of the lady who actually is in love with the girl dressed as her dead (but not) brother is probably the scene to avoid in this film. It is on a par with Much Ado About Nothing's bathing scene, the sexual tension is there but very tastefully done, imo. Each family is different, Ana, so preview, preview, preview!
And you might have to draw a chart to help keep the characters and their relationships straight for this story! 
To take CK's idea of concentrating on monologues from the plays, Twelfth Night is full of songs and Ben Kingsley does a grand job as Feste singing these. Watch those parts and memorize them for a small dose of Shakespeare.
Here is Feste Returns on You Tube. If you play around there you can preview the bathing scene and loads of other clips from the movie. Have fun!
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 7:11am | IP Logged
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Jennifer,
Thank you for these links! This is really helpful. My dh and previewed and we're looking forward to getting this soon!
God bless,
Ck
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 9:19am | IP Logged
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You're welcome, Ck! It is such a wonderful movie, I'm certain you'll enjoy it. I think it is one of the best interpretations of Shakespeare out there.
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
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AnaB
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| Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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The links were very helpful to me too. It is nice to be able to preview a movie before watching it. Thanks so much!
We're going to watch the old MSND before we move on to 12th Night.
I must say that it is neat hearing the children use the names of the Shakespeare characters in their playtime. We're going to give it another go.
BTW, does anyone know the connection or why Shakespeare titled his play Twelfth Night? How is that related to the Twelfth Night of Christmas? Sorry for sounding so ignorant, but I'd like to know that before presenting the play to my children!
Thanks!
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Fe2h2o
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| Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 10:04am | IP Logged
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AnaB wrote:
| BTW, does anyone know the connection or why Shakespeare titled his play Twelfth Night? How is that related to the Twelfth Night of Christmas? Sorry for sounding so ignorant, but I'd like to know that before presenting the play to my children! |
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My understanding is that part of the Twelfth Night celebrations included elements of Misrule(?)—a topsy turvy-ness... where the servants would act as the masters and vice versa... which ties in with the role reversals that occur within the play.
(I just searched for definitions of Misrule, to see if I'd remembered correctly... not especially helpful, but I did notice that most of the Google ads appearing on the pages were either 'Shakespeare' or 'Twelfth Night'.)
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Nov 01 2007 at 12:07pm | IP Logged
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Also,
I believe it was performed as (or at least intended for) part of the celebrations at court for this holiday.
ck
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CKwasniewski
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| Posted: Nov 19 2007 at 12:46pm | IP Logged
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Ana,
I wanted to let you know that I watched the 12th night movie and give you a review.
I absolutely loved it! It was SO well done. I have to agree with Jennifer, it's one of the best Shakespeare productions I've ever seen.
But, if your kids/you had a problem with MSND, there are the other 2 "problem" areas: a scene where Sebastian and Olivia are laying on the couch together kissing , and there is a funny scene where Malvolio is clutching a nude (female) statue.
So, maybe waiting is better??
Or there are several other versions available, which may not be so  .
hth
CK
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Chari
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 12:32am | IP Logged
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AnaB wrote:
Anyways, I'm still trying to grasp why Shakespeare is so necessary for this age? But at this age, I'm still struggling with the "why" of it all. Any ideas?
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To me, knowing Shakespeare, makes you "culturally literate".....a term I just learned from my chats with Willa ...it is everywhere in your life.........quotes, references, etc....and, it just seems to me that to expose children on simple levels to Shakespeare as youngsters, makes them more open to him in their later years.........as opposed to a teen who has already developed their preferences, but had no early exposure to the Bard.......who then may reject learning about Shakespeare, just because it is "new," "tedious" or whatever adjective they could come up with
What do you think?
I am practically writing this in my sleep....I do not know if I make sense.
My own kids have enjoyed Lamb's, Nesbitt's book, Jim Weiss' stories...........and several plays.......I think all of them comedies.......and just conversation. Most movies have been with too much adult theme to watch.........I appreciate your reviews.
I am learning along with them, as I was raised "culturally ILliterate" ..........and I am sure my enthusiasm must help 
signed, from someone who took the Ryans (Willa) and the Bryans to see Taming of the Shrew last week at the local high school
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Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 8:43pm | IP Logged
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I highly recommend the Bruce Coville children's Shakespeare books. I believe it was Alice who 1st mentioned them here. You can learn alot about Shakespeare just from searching some old threads! We also love the Shakespeare "cartoons" based on Leon Garfield, I believe. They are available through Netflix.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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Chari
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Thanks, Brenda........I have never heard of either.
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Chari...Take Up & Read
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Topic: Help with Shakespeare's Twelfth Night?
