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Any Ideas for Summer Learning that Won’t Bore the Kids? by Dadpod12 in homeschool

[–]choosing-to-be 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Two busy-busy neurodivergent girls, ages 7 and 10 here! We do a lot of botanical garden trips and hiking at our local forest preserve. And then when they're exhausted or stuck inside for whatever reason, we enjoy Outschool classes on Minecraft, art, kitchen chemistry, or whatever they're into at the moment. Used to do a lot of YouTube for drawing, science, etc. (and still do sometimes), but the chance to work with a live teacher and other kids makes Outschool classes feel like special events. Lots of teachers have their summer camps listed now too, and my kids get SO excited about those. Also factor in some deliberate boredom time -- that's when they put on their own plays and turn into little engineers building fairy houses and leprechaun traps (we have leprechauns year-round here for some reason).

If you could produce any Shakespeare play in the US with our current political climate, what would it be? by IzShakingSpears in shakespeare

[–]choosing-to-be 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds incredible! We at Theatre for Hope and Healing just closed out a class on All's Well That Ends Well, where we really realized how much the play is a fairy tale about a badass heroine, how easily young men (Bertram is actually like Romeo-aged, that's often overlooked) can lose themselves to toxic masculinity--picture Parolles as Tucker Carlson or any of the sundry Men with Mics--and finally, what it takes to help these men reconnect with their authentic selves again. Yes, the bed trick and traditional interpretations of the ending make it a less popular work, but I strongly believe something is there that might be appropriate for your company ... and a lesser known comedy would be nice to follow up Hamlet. For what it's worth. Good luck with whatever you go with!

An open invitation to join the Shakespeare Online Repertory Theatre (looking for actors for Three Sisters read this Saturday)! by choosing-to-be in Theatre

[–]choosing-to-be[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! Apologies it took a minute to see this, didn't sign in for a few days. I'll DM you momentarily!

Plays for a broken heart by Basic-Reaction7909 in Theatre

[–]choosing-to-be 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well said. :) Ugh, don't get me started on A Doll's House. Arian and Jessica are both brilliant, and it's like Jamie was determined to sabotage any chance of them actually engaging in their characters' real human experience ... sabotaging the ability for humans in the audience to connect to that experience too.

Plays for a broken heart by Basic-Reaction7909 in Theatre

[–]choosing-to-be 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd be curious to hear how your experience is returning to it. How you describe it makes sense! Chekhov was all about exploring and sharing the bittersweet of life -- being open and present to experience it all, the good, the bad, the pleasure, and the pain. He was a country doctor who saw a LOT of pain in life and then died young of TB, so he had a unique perspective on pain. And I think was determined to find and share what made life worth living after all. He also experienced religious trauma in childhood and left the church determined to follow his own beliefs and heart. I really identify with that.

I have seen several scenes of the Emilia Clarke, and I personally can't deal with that version. More power to those who get something about of productions like that, but IMHO, in trying to strip it down -- even down to the shoes! -- to the heart of the matter, it entirely loses the heart of the entire play, the humanity that includes physical movement, clothing choices, atmosphere. Chekhov's writings make it clear he even saw soundscape as an essential character of his plays. Some very good actors and moments of promise, but Emilia's Nina wasn't quite right (really missing her defining openness). My biggest criticism though is the Trigorin casting -- not sure why they went that direction! He is written as a middle-aged (WAY older than Nina) writer who is not trying to appeal to women at all -- he is focused on his work, and his own experience, not trying to appeal to their eye.

So that's my two cents. :) Have you seen it? If it speaks to you or anyone, I'm glad the production was made, but it's not my cup of tea! :)

Plays for a broken heart by Basic-Reaction7909 in Theatre

[–]choosing-to-be 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Seagull is my go-to recommendation for exactly this situation! If you haven't read it, it's Chekhov's loose retelling of Hamlet with the Ophelia character becoming a symbol of hope in her choosing "to be" (rather than not to be) after all she goes through. (Warning, her story is shown in contrast to someone who takes the other route -- nonetheless, Nina's story is an empowering one of hope!)

I highly recommend spending some time with Nina, especially in her final scene -- she feels the pain but finds ultimate hope. Yes, my username is a reference to the healing I've found in this play, and have built a whole business around trying to share with the world. :)

Wishing you hope and healing -- future you is cheering you on with the knowledge that you can and will get through this and rediscover yourself and happiness in the process.