“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes” to Rochester Memorial School, as the Drama Club performs William Shakespeare’s Macbeth this week. The play of murder, witchcraft and social intrigue is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11 during the school day, for the students of RMS, and on Thursday, April 12 evening for parents and friends.
While many elementary schools choose more accessible material for their young actors, RMS teacher and drama director Danni Kleiman believes in exposing students to the language and stories of Shakespeare early in life.
“My mother got me into Shakespeare years ago,” Kleiman said. “I learned it had to be seen to be really appreciated.”
There is much to see in her version of the play, from a bright, flashing fire that rages center stage throughout the show to the simple and effective design of the castle set and the period-inspired costumes. While the words of Shakespeare don’t really mirror that of our modern language, the cast of fifth and sixth graders tackled it with theatrical fervor.
“It was kind of hard to figure out at first what the words meant,” said Mackenzie Drew, sixth grader and Lady Macbeth. “This wasn’t my first Shakespeare play. Last year I was in As You Like It,” she said.
Gabe Noble Shriver, who plays the title character, found it difficult to come to terms with his character.
“They told me that they wanted people to hate me and that kind of broke my spirit a little,” he said. “But I think Macbeth is really sort of a coward because he kills so many people.”
Kleiman has made it a habit of directing her young students in the plays of the Bard. She has also organized productions of Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Taming of the Shrew.
“The storylines are so different and the kids really enjoy them,” she said. Though she has repeated some of his plays in the past, she looks forward to each production.
“Every time we do one of these plays, I feel like there’s something new to see and learn each time. I take pride in the fact that RMS students learn Shakespeare.”
By Eric Tripoli
Mackenzie Drew (left) as Lady Macbeth and Gabe Noble Shriver (right) as Macbeth rehearse a scene together during the Monday dress rehearsal of the RMS production of the infamous murder-mystery play by William Shakespeare.