4 posts tagged “theatre”

Look at the first post you ever wrote on Vox. What important developments or changes have occurred in your life since then?
Submitted by Alexandra.

This was actually my second post as my first just a book review.  My second post was on the movie She's the Man and my efforts to get my daughter interested in the plays of Shakespeare.  Shortly after posting this, I managed to find an outdoor community performance of Much Ado About Nothing which we went to with two other mums and 9yo's.  My daughter and her friend (the other boy fell asleep) found the performance hilarious despite not being able to understand a lot of the dialogue.  They were pretty disgusted at the kissing at the end though!

Still keeping my eyes peeled for other Shakespeare plays to take her too.  I think she would probably enjoy Midsummer Night's Dream or Twelfth Night or even Romeo and Juliet (but just cover her eyes during any disgusting kissing!). 

Romeo and Juliet : For Kids (Shakespeare Can Be Fun series)

Lois Burdett

My husband knows that if he ever wants to butter me up, the best thing to do is to put a Paul Kelly CD on.  I haven't him perform live for years now but hope to again one of these days.  I just get too tired to go and see live music these days.

I am hoping to go and see a theatre show directed by his wife, Kaarin Fairfax, soon (at least I hope she is still his wife).  It is called Mums the Word 2 and is a follow up to another Mum's the Word show I saw when I was pregnant in 1999 (think Kaarin Fairfax directed that one too).  This one is about the trials and tribulations of being a parent to teenagers - something I feel is almost upon me even though Little Miss Hormonal still only 9! 

Reading through old entries on here, I realised I never posted an update on how the Shakespeare outing went.  V and I went to a very good value (free entry for kids under 12yo) outdoor performance of Much Ado About Nothing with two other Mums and almost 9yos.  Was a little worried early on when V started complaining that she couldn't understand what people were saying but, after a few whispered plot details from me and some very humourous acting, she pretty quickly got caught up in the performance.  The acting was very good (kids all thought Beatrice and Benedict were particularly hilarious) and the outdoor location meant that there was lots of space for the actors to move around in.  The low budget nature of the production (eg, a set made from a trailer, bbq shelter dressing rooms etc) was actually good in that it meant that the kids could really see the 'nuts and bolts' of how the show was put on.  Main complaint was that I was pretty sore after sitting on the ground for so long.  Definitely investing in one of those fold up beach chairs before going to something like this again. 

Much Ado About Nothing (Oxford School Shakespeare)

William Shakespeare

She's the Man (Widescreen Edition)

you will love this.  Bought a copy for my kids recently after realising that it featured the same girl who plays Penny Pingleton in the new Hairspray.  I remembered seeing her on Rove Live quite a while back promoting this film and thinking she was really funny.  The film is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  Amanda Bynes is hilarious as Viola who masquerades as her twin brother Sebastian so she can play on the boys' soccer team.  My 9yo daughter especially loved it (as did I).  Her only other exposure to the works of Shakespeare has been watching the film West Side Story which she also enjoyed.  Thinking now might be a good time to take her to a real Shakespeare play (Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet or Midsummer Night's Dream).  Might have a look at what Bell Shakespeare has planned for this year. 

ETA: Have found an upcoming local production of 'Much Ado About Nothing'.  Any thoughts on whether that would be a good one to take a 9yo to introduce her to 'proper' Shakespeare?