WHEATON, IL (April 26, 2011) – The actors participate in a traditional reading of the play, and spontaneously laugh at the playwright’s jokes. They enjoy the challenge of delivering the playwright’s lines with a confidence not unexpected for actors, and they discuss the nuances of the work. Though this high level of understanding would most likely be associated with a college production, this “troupe” is composed of fifth, sixth and seventh graders at Clapham School; the playwright is William Shakespeare, and the play is “The Comedy of Errors,” in its original language.
Slated for a 7 p.m., May 5 opening, at the College Church in Wheaton, the Clapham School production features “The Comedy of Errors” in an edited, original language performance, and will also include adaptations of Shakespearean sonnets memorized and presented by the kindergarten through fourth grade classes. According to Kat van Elswyk, director of the production, the performance is a culmination of a month-long study of Shakespeare for the entire school.
“Theater allows students to not only encounter the words of the script, but they get the chance to actually embody it,” said van Elswyk. “If our minds grow just from rreading a play, how much more they will stretch when we memorize, consider, and work out a character’s lines on stage over weeks and weeks of rehearsal,” she said.
At Clapham School, conventional textbooks are generally not used in the classrooms, deferring instead to the original works being studied to see what the author is saying, according to Susan Carrión, Director of Instruction. “We want students to engage in the study of the great works of literature, art, music,” she said. “When they ‘sit at the feet of the masters’ they learn from the best.”
“This is why we take theater seriously at Clapham, and why we choose Shakespeare over other playwrights,” said van Elswyk. “Shakespeare provides students with some of the richest language and deepest ideas of western civilization. As the students sink their teeth into specific lines, saying and hearing them over and over, their minds are being trained to think a little more like the genius that is Shakespeare,” she said.
“I was completely blown away by our first read through,” said van Elswyk. “They got the jokes, and when I would ask them what they thought a phrase meant, more times than not, they were spot on.”
“Shakespeare is one of the greatest of all writers,” said Doug Reynolds, Clapham Head of School. “In keeping with our desire to help the students pursue what is true, good and beautiful, it goes without saying that Shakespeare must be a part of what we expose them to. This is a tradition for us to have students engage in the acting and reciting of the original works of Shakespeare,” said Reynolds.
The performance is slated for 7 p.m., Thurs., May 5 at College Church in Wheaton in the Commons, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton. Admission is free and is open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
For further information on Clapham School, please visit http://www.claphamschool.com
Doug Reynolds, Head of School – (630) 547-5125
Carolyn Litfin, Director of Admission – (630) 547-5125
About Clapham School
The advanced-paced school will serve grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, during the 2011-2012 school year, and has plans to continue to add classes through 12th grade. Languages are emphasized, with Spanish taught beginning in Pre-K, Latin in 3rd grade, and French in 6th.
