Concerning the release of the killer of Officers Jones and Piagentini, and yesterday's student walkout to protest gun violence, will any students at the school building of the closed I.S. 192, still bearing the name Piagentini and Jones School, walkout in protest of this decision? Will any teachers encourage a walkout? Will any community activists?
Let's hope so.
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"Shakespeare" is an Avon product! Let's re-Vere Shake-speare, and enjoy his works all the more, once we learn more about their true author.
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For those who like the Sonnets, come to the 8th Annual Shakespeare's Birthday Sonnet Slam on April 27 at 1pm at the Bandshell in Central Park. Come hear all 154 Sonnets spoken by 154 Readers of all ages. Free, rain or shine. www.sonnetslam.com
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A terrific book on the Shakespeare war between us and the Brits--https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/107263691.
ASSISTANT, DODGE ASSASSINATION
Beware the ides of March, Alexa,
For even you may be affected.
Great Caesar set the fatal pattern,
So hunker down, lest you be disconnected.
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No problem -- You can always leave the iambic pentameter up to Freddie!
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LOL, while I’m dropping in between tax returns: :)
To “Sigh No More” (my favorite Bard passage, any sung version you like)
Cry no more, New York, cry no more.
The forecast’s wise and funny.
A chill today, but soon we'll score
The weekend's clear and sunny
Time to let go
Of sleet and snow.
Let’s greet the Easter bunny.
Hope April brings a happy glow
And a nice tax refund, honey.
Some nice tax refund money.
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Freddie.
Of all the rest.
You're the best.
Regardless of money.
And I'm not being funny ...
(OK. That's a bit of a stretch -- but it's all true!)
Sigh no more, ladies--Freddie's on the case.
A jewel of the city that once again makes me long for the days when, although not a New Yorker, I was young enough and had enough money to spend time there. As for teaching Shakespeare in high school, it depends entirely on the quality of the teaching. One of my favorite stories from thirty years in the classrooms of independent secondary schools, involves two boys whose wardrobes and attitudes were evident in their black leather jackets. These were mot English majors :-) Well, they fell in love with Hamlet. At year's end, I gave them a special award: the "Shakespeare's Scoundrels" Award. And they gave me a black leather jacket. I truly believe that if a teacher loves Shakespeare, and loves her students, anything is possible. And I'm not in New York. My Shakespeare stories are from the South .
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There's actually a story about why there is a Shakespeare Avenue in The Bronx. Although the very playwright himself never set foot there, though I don't believe he even went to North America throughout his life, it was actually given in honor of the Marcher family, who's estate pretty much stood where that street is today. Marcher was a known fan of William Shakespeare and had his garden decorated with busts that were of characters of his plays including the very bard himself. Unfortunately, no trace of that estate or the garden still exists today as it was all demolished in the early 1900's to make way for the apartments that stand there today. However, the street where it stood on was named Shakespeare Avenue in honor of that garden. After hearing this, now you know why there is a Shakespeare Avenue in Highbridge section of The Bronx.
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This very entertaining (yet at times troubling!) Shakespeare in NYC rundown brings to mind a golden Cole Porter oldie tune!
Tune of “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”
Line up for Shakespeare
New York loves the Bard
Line up for Shakespeare
And it’s free in our backyard
You'll feel great when the Festival staff’ll
Choose your number when they do their raffle.
But if somehow by chance they don’t pick it
Don’t despair, you may still get a ticket.
Find a single who scored a free pair there
He or she’s sure to share their free spare there
Line up for Shakespeare
Life’s not all that hard!
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"During the Revolutionary War — even while British forces occupied our city, Professor Shapiro told us — there was Shakespeare being performed here."
Lots of Americans still thought of themselves as British during the Revolutionary War, and particularly in New York. What does Prof. Shapiro expect?
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LOVE your weather report! Which reminds me...bring back your hair forecasts Alexandra!
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Joseph Papp's Shakespeare Festival in the mid-eighties through the nineties included each play in the cannon and was performed with American actors and directors. It established NY City as a cultural center for Shakespearian plays and American actors/directors as their primary interpreters. My husband and I bought a subscription for 400 dollars each and were treated with top quality Shakespeare for over ten years. During this time the Festival also spearheaded a movement toward racial and sexual diversity in casting and began the careers of many important actors today. It also gave screen actors a chance to be on the stage. Some moments that stand out are Christopher Wlalken in Coriolanus and Al Pacino as Mark Anthony. Now that we've seen each play once, we go back for more whenever we can and it is new each time. Thank you Mr. Pap.
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Many of us had little interest in Shakespeare's works when they were foisted upon us while we were in High School. However, they became more interesting and enjoyable later in life, when our interest was optional and not obligatory.
Often his works mean more to a more mature individual with life's experiences under our belts. Perchance the school system should hold-off promoting the bard too early, least young minds have negative experiences and never read any of his works again. Just an opinion!
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I’m not so sure...after all in college we choose our courses. Would anyone but drama majors opt for Shakespeare when we begin to focus on our working lives? I also had Shakespeare foisted on me during high school: it is the memory of the foisting that leads me to wonder why these works have so much resonance in the 21 century and to explore more.
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Billy, you had the wrong teachers.
Twelve-year-olds have a real ball reading and performing "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds get a thrill out of "Macbeth." You need someone who actually knows both Shakespeare and kids.
But it's true that some Shakespeare plays should be saved for later on. Doing them too early shows a sort of arrogance on the part of the English departments.
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Teachers who aren't passionate about what they teach obviously cannot help students find what is valuable in Shakespeare, Billy. I don't think it's the age of the students that matters as much as the enthusiasm of the teacher. That being said, you might not want to teach King Lear to teenagers. If they understood it, they might be very scared.
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