On April 25, the class of 2028 got the opportunity to see what they had been learning come to life. Romeo and Juliet is core reading for Freshmen at Amador, and while some may find reading Shakespeare boring, the English department has found a way to make it more interesting this year.
“When I heard that SF Shakes was performing Romeo and Juliet for schools, I knew we had to have them come to Amador. We have had them come out for their “Play Shops” in which they come into classrooms and work with students, but it’s been over seven years since they were here to actually perform the play. I reached out to the English department to see if we had the funds for this show, and they said that we did,” said English teacher Sara Marek.
Breaking down barriers of understanding
Shakespeare’s writing, being from the mid 1500s and early 1600s, can be difficult for many 21st century readers to understand. In the modern era, SparkNotes offers No Fear versions of the playwright’s original works, line-by-line translations to modern English. But nothing compares to seeing Shakespeare as it was intended.
Magdalena Del Castillo played Benviolio and the Nurse in the play. She and the rest of her cast are in contract with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, specifically Shakespeare on Tour. The goal of this program is to make Shakespeare accessible.
“This [adaptation of the show] is specifically designed to engage kids. Like we saw today, there were three people in the audience who… had seen a Shakespeare before. So we do try to as much as we can. Make it as understandable as possible and make really big choices so that everything makes sense,” said Castillo.
Play engages students
The version that Amador students saw was shortened from Shakespeare’s full version —about two hours—to one hour. The show involved some audience participation from student volunteers and made an effort to contemporize its dress and setting.
“I thought it was really cool to see it. Though, I’m also glad I read it because Shakespearean English is really hard to understand. But it was really fun watching it… It’s definitely much easier to understand it seeing it happen, versus just seeing the words on a piece of paper,” said Allie Schumacher (‘28).
Romeo and Juliet is taught for a reason. Its themes are timeless, and it is a classic that is of enduring importance to culture. But to the 21st century reader, it can be hard to consume. Opportunities like the one given to Amador by the SF Shakespeare festival are important in making such a classic accessible and understandable so the next generation of Amador students can continue to enjoy the work.
