As was the case last year, the Shakespeare class/group has been a wonderful experience, for both George and me. It's homeschooling at its best, in a way. It felt like being part of a really wonderful school--well, actually, better than that. People worry that homeschoolers don't get enough opportunity for socialization, but the kind of community and socialization that developed over the course of the last several months with the Shakespeare group was probably better than anything I've ever been part of in a school setting, as either a student or a parent.
Since sometime in March, 31 kids and their parents met every Monday for about 3 hours (and occasionally on Fridays as well). The leaders of the group are the minister from the local Unitarian church and his wife, and they are extraordinary. The first few sessions were dedicated to various acting games, which served not only to loosen the kids up and get them really into the spirit of acting, but also to give Douglas (the director) an idea of the kids' levels of acting ability, for the purposes of casting. The activities ranged from improv with or without props to saying various lines with different emotions. Once the play was cast, the weekly sessions obviously focused more on rehearsals, but until the last month or so there was always a little time left at the end for more acting games, which the kids just loved.
The parents at first mostly just watched (although sometimes we participated in some of the games, too), but as time went by people helped out as they were able with costumes and sets or with running lines with kids whose scenes weren't being rehearsed right then with the director. As the months went by, I found myself becoming closer with several of the parents, but also with many of the kids. I have to say, I really love these kids! And I really cherish having had the opportunity to spend time with them, and to see them grow as actors and as people. And once Ben was born, it was so wonderful to see the kids respond to him. They were fascinated by and adored him, and would always ask to hold him and would sometimes even help me change him. It was so very sweet.
One experience that had nothing to do with the production really stands out to me as typifying the beauty of the community of the group. The Unitarian church has a labyrinth in the yard, and after rehearsal one day one of the kids asked me if I'd use the timer on my cell phone to time her as she ran through it. When a couple of other kids saw what we were doing, they asked if they could do it too, and before long there was a line of at least 10 kids who wanted to run through the labyrinth and be timed. I have to admit that part of me was just a little nervous--while a few of the kids are active in competitive sports, many are not, and I just wasn't sure how they'd handle this kind of direct competition. (Maybe I've internalized some fears about homeschooled kids!) Plus, some of the kids are a lot younger, and I thought maybe they'd get their feelings hurt if they didn't do as well. I needn't have worried! The kids all stuck around after their turns not just to see if anyone would beat their time, but also to cheer each other on with great gusto. You could really feel them pulling for each other, as if they were all on a team together. Which I guess they sort of are! I found the whole thing to be both touching and great fun.
The play took a little longer to come together this year than last, probably because it was significantly longer and also a bit more complex, with more characters with speaking parts, and some longer scenes with lots of entrances and exits and such. But eventually it did come together, of course, and despite the occasional rough spot we parents were all bursting with pride on performance night.
George did an awesome job (my biased and unbiased opinion), making the most of his minor role despite his disappointment in not getting a lead this time around. At least he didn't have to play a lover again, which was what he very much wanted to avoid:-)
I hope Douglas and Sidra will be up for doing this again next year!
A whole bunch of pictures... starting with one of the cast party, held at our house. Look, actual homeschool socialization in action ;-)
George as Fabian, the gardener:
Tending the tree he's about to hide behind with Sir Andrew:
Watching as Malvolio reads the fake love letter they have planted for him...
The whole cast, at the end of the production on campus:
The next day, at the entrance to the Faerie Festival
Fabian, pushing a very reluctant Sir Andrew to fight with an equally reluctant Cesario
Fabian, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew discuss their shenanigans
The final scene, when all is revealed:
In between scenes, Baby Ben is adored....
My number 1 helper, pretty-in-pink stepdaughter Lindsey
Hamming it up after the performance in the woods at the festival
One of the more elaborate booths at the festival:
A fairy/nymph of some sort, who came out of her tree to offer a very entertaining blessing upon Baby Ben:
Another entertaining creature...
We wrapped up day two with a trip to a nearby lake:
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