It's in the Air

HORATIOStay! Speak, speak! I charge thee, speak!

This text is taken from the opening scene of "Hamlet." In the castle fortress, Horatio and a few guards have the unsettling experience of seeing a ghost bearing a remarkable resemblance to Hamlet's dead father, the King.

A few years ago, when The Shakespeare Club performed Hamlet, eight-year-old Geoffrey played Hamlet's best buddy, Horatio. Geoffrey is an actor through and through. The kind of kid that you simply know was born for center stage.

It's not that Geoffrey clamored for attention or cracked jokes or hammed it up. It was his ability to absorb text, to question a character's motive, and his desire to take an audience on a ride that led me to this conclusion.

"Hamlet" is a tragedy defined by a stage littered with dead bodies at curtain's fall. There are a few laughs in the play, but it's not a comedy defined by marriages at curtain's fall.

I watched Geoffrey rehearse the opening scene of the play, where the ghost appears and scares the willies out of the tough guys.

"Okay, fellas," I directed. "Keep in mind that in Denmark winters are way cold and snowy. And remember this scene takes place at night. It's up to you to convince the audience of the atmosphere."

Luis, as Marcellus, hugged himself and pretended to shiver. The other boys followed his lead by exhaling imaginary wisps of air and chattering their teeth until Mr. Ghost arrived, when they widened their eyes and stared.

Geoffrey made a choice to point his sword toward the ghost, letting it quiver and shake. Riotous. His actor mates crowed with glee and copied him. They added knocking knees to their repertoire of stage business.


I had three actors onstage facing a scary ghost as if we were staging a Bugs Bunny version of "Hamlet."

And I let it go. I let their choices stay in for weeks. I didn't mention it, they got lots of laughs from the other kids while they rehearsed and they bathed in the glory of what they believed was inspired. And it was inspired. It wasn't right for the play but it was inspired.

In the club we have a small library of Shakespeare movies on DVD which the kids can check out. One weekend Geoffrey borrowed a film version of "Hamlet."

The next rehearsal the funny, quivering sword bit was gone.

"Oh, I noticed that you made a change, Geoffrey, in that opening scene. It's good, what you're doing, but I just wondered how you came to it?"

"Well, Ms. Ryane, I saw that movie of 'Hamlet' and that guy being Horatio, he was really good and he didn't act kind of, like you know, kind of like funny....He was kind of like, you know, more freaked out...so I wanted to do that."

"Good. I think it works."

Air. Actors need air and space and room for discovery. Who doesn't?

Stephen Dillane as Horatio.

CHILDREN'S WRITES: A Journal Entry

I allways wanted power because my little sister ceeps on taking stuff from me.

I wanted revenge when Dominick keeps on making fun of my name. I waanted to make fun of his name but I just walked away and he cept saying it and I got relly mad.

—Lizzie, 4th grade

snow picture by Flickr user MMMR

An Interview: Darby

mel: Tell us who you are, please.

darby: Um...my name is Darby, I'm ten years old and this was my third year in Shakespeare Club.

And what did you play in "Macbeth"?

I played Narrator Two.

Tell me why you first thought you wanted to be in Shakespeare Club and why you wanted to continue with it.

I always really had a passion for acting and when I saw the play "Hamlet" I told my mom to sign me up and I really liked it.

What did you learn about yourself in these last three years of doing Shakespeare Club?

That acting can really build friendships and that it's also really fun and rewarding.

What was your favorite thing about Thursday, the performance day?

I just liked the whole thing and the curtain call.


Did you learn anything about yourself this year, Darby?

[Darby's hair hangs halfway over her face, she shrugs, pauses and answers] Yeah, I guess.

What did you learn?

[bursting out] That I wish I could be in Shakespeare Club next year!

How do you feel about moving on to middle school?

Scared.

What are you scared of?

Everything.

What did you like best about Shakespeare Club?

Well...having to get lines and learning about a character and getting to be with friends in a really great production.

And what about the writing part? You're quite a good writer.

I really like the journal part because it does give the other actors a chance to express themselves and how they felt about the play.

What do you think you're going to be when you grow up?

A writer and an actress, those are just two of the things out of three.

What's number three?

A medical research scientist. I want to do that because I want to know how to cure fatal diseases like cancer and leukemia.

Have you ever known anyone with cancer or leukemia?

Yeah. My grandmother died on February 5, 2008, of cancer.

CHILDREN'S WRITES: A Journal Entry

I wish to have a life of purpose because I want to help others. I would write and buy some books to give to charity. I would raise money to help hospitals reaserch diseases like cancer and landerhans cell histocylosis which is a rare blood diseases that is very much like cancer. I would help animal shelters feed the animals there. A life of purpose suits me very well in my opinion.

—Darby, 5th grade

Those Pesky Rules

Way back in Year Two of The Shakespeare Club we had a fifth-grade member named Emily. She played Polonius in our "Hamlet." Emily was an eager participant. She asked intelligent questions about Hamlet's motives. She was curious to know what an "arras" was since she would be stabbed to death by Hamlet on the other side of such a thing.

Emily was a lively, funny and super-bright kid. She only had one year with the club but left an imprint that stays with us year after year.

At our first meeting, I introduce the kids to the club rules and mottos.


They understand listening to the director. Some wrestle to find courage. So far, I haven't detected whining. The most difficult rule to abide is: "Never tells another actor what to do."

These are little kids, so I get that struggle. However, I've never been in a single rehearsal hall or on a single film set where the concept is entirely disregarded by adult professionals. Quite often in the guise of "Oh, that's how you're going to do that?" or "Just my two cents but I was wondering if she could..." or "I can't do this if he does that...."

In our club, the kids catch each other breaking that rule and then tell each other so. It's a never-ending circle but at least they understand that there is a rule.


Then we learn the mottos and this is where Emily's legacy takes hold.

The children start with: "We are The Shakespeare Club!" then voice the list of mottos, ending with:

"If I can do Shakespeare, I can do anything!"

When Emily first shouted it out, she crooked her elbow and gave a "gosh, darn" gesture along with stomping her foot. It was corny and perfect. The kids and I thought it was a riot and it stuck. Every year a couple of seasoned members will pass along the routine and it has become a favorite moment.

Emily moved to another neighborhood and I never saw her again after the "Hamlet" season. I like to think she would be pleased to know that every time an actor swipes his arm across his chest and yells out that line, I think of her and her funny Polonius peeping out from behind the arras.

CHILDREN'S WRITES: A Journal Entry

I want to be in shakespeare club because I want to do plays. I want to be a real Actor, I know shakespeare club will be fun, I love part when it says If I can do shakespeare I can do anything!

Today in shakespeare I leard what a real Actor does. I leard what the shakespeare club mottos are. Also what leard in shakespeare is A real Actor never whines.

—Wendy, 3rd grade

Emilia: Ophelia Left Behind

February, 2007

I recently saw a movie, "The Burning Plain," written and directed by Guillermo Arriaga. Themes of abandonment and betrayal spin characters into life-altering, risky and deadly actions. The film is worth seeing to remember that we are human beings who crave love and acknowledgement, and when it's taken away, we react.

Many of the children in The Shakespeare Club have either a missing mom, a missing dad or, in some cases, both parents are...somewhere else.

In my second year of the club we did "Hamlet" and I cast a bright but shy girl as Ophelia, the girlfriend who goes mad.

Emilia was both excited and terrified about getting the role. Rehearsal after rehearsal she whipped around, tossing her bundle of flowers as quickly as she spat out the words.

"Emilia," I started quietly as we worked alone, "poor Ophelia's been dumped by her boyfriend, her brother has gone away and her dad is dead. She's having a rough time, right?"

"Yeah, I guess," Emilia answered and carefully touched the pages of her script.

"I'm going to ask you to trust me. When you walk in the circle and drop your flowers, I'm going to suggest that you do it in slow-motion...kind of like you're underwater...kind of like you're in a dream...know what I mean?"

"Yeah...but...that's hard, Ms. Ryane."

"I know. I know it is. I'm asking you to do a hard thing but I cast you because I know that you can do it. I promise you, Emilia, I won't let you look silly on stage. I promise. The thing is, Emilia, you have to trust me. Do you know what I mean by that?"

"Sorta."

"Okay, think about some one you already trust. Like...your dad...is he someone you trust?"

"He left us."

Three little words. When she said them she looked straight into my eyes with her clear brown ones. Her face framed by the dark, wild curls of her hair. She was still. She was calm.

"He left us."

And I knew that what I was asking of her was way too much.

Emilia's mom, busy raising three kids and working a full-time job, also had to answer the question, "Where's Dad?"

"He left us," was as simple and true an answer as I'm sure she could come up with.

"Emilia, you're going to be fine. Your Ophelia is going to be perfect. I trust you."

CHILDREN'S WRITES: A Journal Entry

Hi
my name is Emilia. I like being Ophelia but I am just so nervous. I like being her at the same time I don’t. I realy wish I was narrator because I don't want to embaras my self.

The characters I liked were Me. I was so great! That’s the only thing I heard. I think everybody was great. But I still love myself Ophilia!

—Emilia, 5th grade

Revenge: 'Tis Sweet

In my second year of directing The Shakespeare Club, a special-education teacher approached me to pitch one of her students for the club.

"Jack is special kid and I just have a feeling that he would do so well with you and the club. His mom agrees and we hope you will seriously consider him."

Oh boy. This was Year Two and I was barely out of rehab after Year One and the trauma of what classroom chaos was all about.

"I have to be honest here, I really know nothing about autism beyond what I've seen in a couple of documentaries. I'm over my head as it is...I don't know...."

"Meet him. Let him audition. Please."

"Okay, here's what I'll do. Jack can certainly audition and if after that I think it might work...I'll give it a go on a trial basis. Both you and his mom have to understand that if I don't have what it takes to help Jack...well, you know."

"That's all we ask."

Jack, a skinny boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, threw me for a loop over and over in ways that I did not predict.

In "Hamlet," I cast him as the ghost of Hamlet's father. Jack picked up his script and channeled some old English actor like Alastair Sim, famous for his portrayal of Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol."

"Haaammmlet...." Jack's voice boomed in an English accent.

I dropped my script to my lap and my jaw next to it. Where the heck was this coming from?

GHOSTMark me! My hour is almost come.
I am thy father's spirit doomed to walk the night.
At dawn I render up myself and disappear from sight.
If thou didst ever thy dear father love,
Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder!

Jack walked straight-legged as if wearing a suit of armor. He reached his arms forward as a ghost might. His voice rang out forceful, loud and clear. He took months to remember my name but he learned his lines.

The trial period was over...I was keeping Jack.

Jack suffered as many slings and arrows from his fellow club members as poor Hamlet did in the play. He was made fun of and he was excluded. One boy was dropped from the club for bullying Jack and making a false accusation.

Tears streamed down Jack's cheeks. "I didn't do that, Ms...Ms...Ms...I didn't."

Jack, in his private world, accepted most things with aplomb and just kept acting harder.

Like many children with autism Jack wasn't big on touching, but after his performance he accepted handshakes from his relatives and his teachers. He thrust his hand forward for a formal greeting.

From me, he actually allowed a hug and said my name.

"Ms. Ryane, that was great."

"You were great, Jack. You were great."

His mother sent me a note saying that when Jack was diagnosed at three years of age, they never thought they'd see a day like the day he played the ghost in Hamlet.

The next year, Jack played Juliet's suitor, Paris, in "Romeo and Juliet." He wept over his beloved's body. He laid flowers next to her. He fought in a swordfight.

By Year Four, he'd graduated and left the school, but one day as I was working privately with Luis, this came up:

"Ms. Ryane?"

"Yes, Luis."

"Remember that kid, Jack...he was that ghost guy in 'Hamlet'? He was great, wasn't he?"

"Yes, Luis he certainly was. We all learned a lot from Jack."


CHILDREN'S WRITES: A Journal Entry

Peter don't know how read but Peter can invited romeo to the party.

Tybailed get's mad at romeo because he is invited.

I'm playing count Paris and I want to mery Juleit but she doesn't wants to mery me she want's to mery romeo and that's make me grumpy and want to kill romeo but he kill me insted.

I like to be count paris because I have a sowrd my mom and dad is SO proud of me they did lights and sound I like the capulets best then the mantegus also I like the pizza party my favoret monetagu is romeo and my favoret capulet is count paris and my favoret part of romeo and Juliet is the fighting romeo vs count paris that’s all.

—Jack, 5th grade

Luis: Laughing All the Way

February, 2009

In third grade, Luis played Marcellus in "Hamlet" and asked me over and over:

"Mith Ryane, ith Marthelluth a boy?"

"Yes, Luis, Marcellus is definitely a boy. He's a guard in Hamlet's castle."

"Are you thure?"

Luis has a tiny lisp. Spanish is the language used in Luis' home and he likes to beat his chest and announce:

"I'm Mexican!"

I find this refreshing in these troubled days of hostile immigration rhetoric.

It's easy to see how Luis might have thought Marcellus was a girl because Marcella is a popular name in Mexican culture.

In his second year in the club, Luis played Benvolio, the peacekeeping friend of Romeo. After that production, Luis tracked me down on the campus.

"Mith Ryane, what play are we doing nexth year?"

"Well, I'm thinking maybe 'Twelfth Night'?"

"Ith it a comedy?"

"Yes, it is a comedy."

"Oh good...cauth I think I'm better at comedieth."

And he is...oh, is he ever. He's born with the timing of a Catskills comic, this boy. But we have to have a meeting in my office, a bench outside Room 39.

"Luis, you have a gift."

His eyes narrow into a slightly skeptical look.

"Do you know what I mean by that?"

He shakes his head.

"I mean you have a special talent. Something you were born with. Can you guess what it is?"

"Comedy?"

"Yup. Comedy. You can make people laugh and that's fantastic. But here's the thing...I'm going to need you to do that onstage, not off."

He gives another puzzled look.

"Luis, right now in the Shakespeare Club meetings, you cannot stop yourself from making smart cracks all the time....I mean, you have Susan and Meara practically wetting their pants every time you open your mouth."

"Yeah," he agrees, and gives a little laugh. He's proud of his dazzling ways.

"But it's disturbing and gets in the way when I'm trying to teach or direct the other kids. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah." He's a bit sorry.

"Luis, I'm going to make you a promise: Concentrate, use discipline, pay attention and a spectacular thing will happen."

"Yeah?" He's interested.

"When we do 'Twelfth Night,' I promise you the laughs are going to roll across the auditorium in waves and wash over you like a giant ocean. You're going to have the best time of your life, Luis. But you have to stick with me. Don't get those dreaded xs. Don't lose your place in the club. You're going to rock, Luis. I promise. Believe me?"

"Yeah."

We slap high fives to seal the deal.

Luis' third-grade teacher wrote him off. She got frustrated with him and didn't think he worked hard enough.

Luis has trouble reading and writing. He can make a joke — but cannot not spell the word. The j and y sounds mix him up.

Check this out: The boy can read and act Shakespeare like a pro.

Introducing: Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a.k.a. Luis, a.k.a. a Shakespearean goofball.

CHILDREN'S WRITES: A Journal Entry

Today we finished reading the play. Ms. Ryane said they are getting parts next week. I felt like I wanted to be in the play, But that is ALL over. I hope I get over it! I feel like everything has changed. First, I wanted to do this, but now I want to do something else. But I made a promised to Ms. Ryane, so OHH WELL!!!

—Lyndon, 5th grade

Note to self: Pay attention to Lyndon.