By Camlyn Giddins
If you mentioned performing at a Shakespeare competition to a young high school actor, most would expect them to run. However, in early September, the highly qualified Mrs. Broberg prepared 20 of our students, including the Timpanogos Dance Team, for a journey to the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City on Oct. 2.
Each year, Southern Utah University hosts the Utah Shakespearean Festival, where high schools gather to compete. They perform one ensemble scene with everyone, some duo/trio scenes, and monologues. They are judged in their acting and choreography, among other areas.
I interviewed sophomore Alana Smith, who played Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. When asked what the hardest part was besides immovable costumes, Alana surprisingly answered, "I would say the guys. They're the good part and the bad part at the same time."
Senior Krystal Karns, who also went to assist Mrs. Broberg and support her acting friends, said, "The guys are so freaking flirty at Shakespeare!"
Alana agreed, "And it's heightened because there are only a few guys and tons of girls," but they both giggled when they mentioned that there were a lot of attractive boys there, especially from other schools.
From one point of view, who wouldn't want to engross themselves in Shakespeare? There are sword fights and duels, twisted love hexagons, flying insults, comedy, revenge and death. That's barely skimming the surface. We enjoy watching all of that at the movies. So what is it that makes us shun Shakespeare's work and miss out on lively experiences? The barrier is called language style.
Senior Jake Chamberlain was Lord Capulet, Juliet's father in Romeo and Juliet. Jake overcame the barrier of misunderstanding by diving right into it in order to get his lines down. "I understand it pretty well. I just need to read it to myself multiple times to get it memorized. And if there's a word I don't understand, I just look it up in my drama teacher's lexicon." Jake also said, "I think the man was brilliant. His stories can be amusing and yet also have a great theme behind themn His dramas and tragedies are really quite touching if it's performed well. It really speaks to you if you understand what he's saying."
Most of us don't clearly know what goes on at the festival. This competition is not the typical gauge-each-other's-eyes-out competition. Alana felt it was a lot easier than anticipated because it didn't have the usual tension competitions have. She explained, "I loved the judges because they give you all this amazing input. It's just about getting better, and it's not like a competition anymore. If you just chill and do it, it's so much fun and don't think like, 'oh my gosh; I'm going to lose.'"
Jake Chamberlain commented with similar words, "The best part about the Shakespeare competition was probably the judging of the monologues, duos and trios because I was involved in that and they had really, really good judges. I really enjoyed them."
The schedule is also rather loose. The college puts on plays, which the students get to see while they're not performing. There are also workshops focused on acting, dancing, tech or make-up.
Besides missing school, other bonuses include meeting up with and making new friends from other schools. Alana was nervous about making friends. She explained, "I had just moved and I didn't really know anybody." Krystal laughed, "But that all changes as soon as you get on the bus."
To sum up the experience, Mrs. Broberg shared, "Over the years, students have said that attending Shakespeare has been one of the most fun and most valuable experiences they've ever had."
The acting warriors returned home with a second place victory for the ensemble scene. A video of the ensemble scene and other little highlights should be posted on the school website soon.
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