The magic of Shakespeare

It was Shakespeare Night at school tonight. Everyone was there - the gym was packed. The set was a half-timbered affair which made me nostalgic for home for a minute, and then the show began.

Last year's was good, this year's even better. The Pre-Ks sang a song about the works of Shakespeare and the K/1s put on a brilliant slap-stick routine involving a giant turkey leg. Then it was time for the 2/3s, and who should appear centre-stage but a certain Boy (never been known to speak on stage before) who introduced the performance loudly and clearly and made his teachers and his parents very proud. His classmates illustrated some of Shakespeare's idioms in comedic fashion, and were followed by the 4/5s doing a skit on the same theme - all very well performed. The Girl, with a minimal speaking part, shifted scenery with admirable swagger. 6/7s took on The Tempest (in digest form) and then the 8th Grade gave us a condensed and tragical Romeo and Juliet.

Every kid performed tonight - miraculously, even my own. The guy that comes in and puts the show together with them all is more than an actor: he's a magician.