We've seen the scene before—Juliet on the balcony pining for her lover, Romeo, crouching in the ground below.
At "Hilarious History" presented by Porch Light Productions of Glen Rock, wide-eyed youths got their shot at putting their own spin on some of the Bard's famous lines, while learning in the process.
Julie Ann McMillan and Ryan Pifher led a small, but enthusiastic group of youngsters Nov. 6 at the Community Center in an interactive glimpse at the history of theater.
Traveling from ancient Greece to Renaissance Italy, the pair educated and acted with some Ridgewood kids interested in the performing arts.
"We're trying to get them to think 'Wow! This is fun, I want to do this,'" McMillan said.
Covering acting fundamentals and theater history, the show educates while getting kids in on the action.
For example, after explaining and performing an improvised scene, the two invited some kids to attempt their own. Two brave young men took a stab and wound up with a brief but silly pie-throwing sketch.
"We try to make this as fun and educational as possible," said Pifher, the theater's artistic director.
"Hilarious History" was written and developed for performance for kids at various events, including school assemblies, workshops, and small gatherings, like at the Community Center Friday.
And the pair packed the education—coupled with age-appropriate silliness—into the hour-long show.
The program, developed in accordance with established curriculum, emphasized specific vocabulary terms in the show. At the end, an informal quiz was given, and the kids recited what they had learned. Terms like "amphitheater," "Elizabeth I," and even "improvisational comedy" were successfully retained by the captive audience.
The kids liked the action best, though. Village youths Claire and Sarah loved the "sword fights," as did most audience members—signified by cheering and giggles.
Pifher quipped the decision to do three sword fights was no accident.
More complicated themes were sprinkled into the performance, as well—including female exclusion from acting and questions on William Shakespeare's true identity.
Although scripted, the show's intimate nature and surroundings allow for flexibility. While explaining iambic pentameter, Pifher likened it to rap music (words with rhythm) and started a clapping, singsong verse from Shakespeare.
"Theater is what I love, and if I can inspire kids to get up on stage—not so they can be professional actors—but to add to their self-esteem, and let their guard down, then great," Pifher said.
In bigger audiences, Pifher said the group has an associated slideshow to enhance the show. But, as seen at the Community Center, sometimes silliness and a sword fight are all you need.
