Over my years of working with Shakespeare plays on stage and in classrooms, I've become convinced that the plays, as they have come down to us from their original Quarto and Folio forms, were rarely (with maybe a couple of exceptions) performed uncut by Shakespeare's own company. I believe that they were added to, subtracted from, and revised extensively for each revival of the play, giving the Elizabethan and Jacobean audiences something new to see and consider each time a familiar title was re-staged. So don't be afraid of judicious cutting; it's highly unlikely that those original audiences ever sat (or stood) through the uncut Hamlet, All's Well That Ends Well, Cymbeline, Coriolanus, etc.
But, as others have pointed out, it's always smart to cut the verse in a way that preserves the iambic pentameter whenever possible, matching half lines appropriately with other half lines; and once you begin doing that, it's amazing to see how easy that often is, almost as if there exist ready-made "ghost cuts" that Shakespeare and his fellow actors have left us.
I always recall Jerzy Grotowski's dictum about cutting classical texts. Some might find it controversial, but it's a good guide:
Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2015 08:22
From: Ryan Moore
Subject: Shakespeare scripts
I'm with you Phillip. When I cut the scripts I learn about the play, and also become painfully aware of language, references, or elements that escape me before they reach my middle schoolers. In a world where I had more time and resources, I always thought it would be worthwhile to have students involved in this process for the same reason.
------------------------------
Ryan Moore
Theatre Teacher and Forensics Coach
Ferndale MI
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2015 21:02
From: Phillip Goodchild
Subject: Shakespeare scripts
We just finished class productions of Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream. I cut both texts considerably, adhering to advice already given in this discussion (scansion, cut two lines/couplets rather than one), and found it to be very rewarding for myself, helping me to regain my familiarity with the text as I prepared for its production.
'Speaking the Speech' is also a fairly decent resource, as well as the Globe Theatre Education's 'Creative Shakespeare.' Both books offer good ideas, and having said that, I am excited to seek out the 'Will Power' and other recommendations given in this discussion!
I absolutely recommend using some kind of parallel 'translation'. I did not use one for our recent productions, and whilst the kids did great, I think I could have saved us all a lot of time by employing someone other than me to explain every other sentence...
------------------------------
Phillip Goodchild
Ruskin FL
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2015 17:53
From: David Montee
Subject: Shakespeare scripts
Incidentally....there are numerous PD websites that will offer PDF or Word Documents of R&J that can be downloaded, then cut and edited to your own individual needs. Then printed, so that you can fashion your own cuts, emendations, and adaptations of language, as appropriate.
Again.....have fun! Once your students understand the context of the language, they should have a great time discovering how modern Shakespeare's sensibility really is. My students invariably fall in love with him--even with plays like PERICLES and CYMBELINE.
------------------------------
David Montee
Director Theatre Division
Interlochen MI
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-28-2015 17:21
From: David Montee
Subject: Shakespeare scripts
Unless it is an adaptation that is specifically copyrighted for stage production--which, unless there are definitive changes in the text, is unlikely--all Shakespeare plays are non-royalty.
I recently published a book (August, 2014) through Smith and Kraus on working with young actors on Shakespeare, entitled Translating Shakespeare: A Guidebook for Young Actors. I've taught Shakespeare to high school students for nearly 30 years, and directed high school students in 18 Shakespeare titles (half of the canon). I'd love it if the book proved helpful in any way to you in your preparations.
Best of luck! I hope your students love their experience with Romeo and Juliet!
------------------------------
David Montee
Director Theatre Division
Interlochen MI
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-26-2015 08:28
From: Holly Thompson
Subject: Shakespeare scripts
Okay--I'll readily admit I have avoided doing Shakespeare for a very long time, but am now seriously thinking about Romeo and Juliet, not only as a good experience for the kids, but a challenge to myself. And... as long as the entire freshman class has to read the book, a good cross-curricular event that could raise a good bit of money. (I'm hoping to bolster our funds with this, so we can support a really ambitious musical next year that has a lot of special effects, including flying.)
Which brings me to my question: where can I find a public domain version of Romeo and Juliet that I can cut freely (not too freely, just a bit here and there without having to work with publishers, etc) and won't cost me much, if anything, in royalties?
Thanks for any and all suggestions.
Holly
------------------------------
Holly Thompson
Worthington OH
------------------------------