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February 20, 2009

Shakespeare comes alive

Professionals visit Russell Primary

By MIKE JAMES - The Independent

RUSSELL — The costumes Dathan Hooper pulled out of the plastic bin were a motley collection of funny hats, scarves and masks.

But when the third-graders in Anne Herndon’s class slipped them on, they slipped right into character.



Minutes after Hooper introduced himself to the children, they were immersed in a fast and furious version of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Hooper pulled the children out of their seats, plopped hats on their heads, and walked them through their parts, helping them recite the immortal lines and sprinkling the production with explanatory asides.

Hooper is a member of the Louisville-based Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. He was one of two actors to spend most of the week at Russell Primary School in an outreach program aptly named “Shakespeare Alive.”

In four days he worked with children in 30 classes, from kindergarten through third grade, said school librarian Kathy Heaberlin.

Putting all the children in the spotlight kept them focused and engaged, Herndon said. “It just brings it to life for them,” Herndon said after the 45-minute performance.

Vital to the presentation was the blend of Shakespeare’s original lines with enough exposition to clarify the story line. “Once they know that Hermia has to marry the man her father has chosen, or die, the kids are hooked,” Hooper said.

“He was being funny and helping us out and telling us what the words were,” said Grant Bates, one of the third-graders. “He used Shakespeare kind of words.”

From the white veils worn by Hermia and Helena to the giant sunglasses perched on the noses of the fairies, Hooper chooses the costumes himself. “My whole idea is that when they see these things their imaginations will run wild,” he said.

When the hats go on, the ham comes out. And that’s good, Hooper believes: “It’s easier to work with them when they’re hams than when they’re shy.”

An early introduction to Shakespeare will stick with children, Herndon believes. Once they start studying him in earnest in middle and high school, they’ll remember their classroom production, she hopes. “They won’t be intimidated. They’ve already heard the language.”

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.

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