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[CCBC-Net] Macbeth for children?
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From: Tichey-Staack, Mary <mticheystaack>
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:24:46 -0400
I have read them all. Macbeth for Children? Well, that's a stretch. Looks like animal fantasy fiction to me with good and evil, reminds me of the Brian Jacques books, not Shakespeare. I have several fourth and fifth graders who love them and I found the good guys very endearing characters.
Mary Tichey-Staack, LMS Branchville Elementary Ridgefield, CT mticheystaack at ridgefield.org currently reading: Inkdeath by Funke
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Judith Ridge Sent: Tue 10/21/2008 6:20 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] Macbeth for children?
2008/10/22 <cmcalist at guilford.edu>
> Has anyone else read The Mistmantle Chronicles? I can't remember the
name
> of the author. I read one in a mother daughter reading group and it
was a
> retelling of Macbeth with squirrels and moles etc. for characters. I
just
> don't think Macbeth is a good story to retell for young children
Actually, the Bell Shakespeare company (an leading Australian theatre company) is currently staging an extremely successful production of Macbeth for children, called "Just Macbeth". It was developed in collaboration with our best-selling children's author, Andy Griffiths ("The Day My Bum Went Psycho", the "Just" series of short stories).
The play features the characters from Andy's "Just" short stories who are drawn into the world of Macbeth when they make and drink the witch's brew. I am yet to see the play myself, but I have friends who took their children
(11+) who all thought it was utterly brilliant. The murders were committed off stage, or with puppets. The Sydney Morning Herald review (link belows) says "*It is hard to conceive of a more appropriate production through which to introduce children to the theatre, let alone Shakespeare."*
Info about the production at:
http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/
The Sydney Morning Herald review:
*http://tinyurl.com/6xbdey*<http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/art s/arts-reviews/just-macbeth/2008/10/13/1223749910926.html>
And there's an interview with Andy here: *http://tinyurl.com/6xd7jw*
Judith
Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:24:46 -0400
I have read them all. Macbeth for Children? Well, that's a stretch. Looks like animal fantasy fiction to me with good and evil, reminds me of the Brian Jacques books, not Shakespeare. I have several fourth and fifth graders who love them and I found the good guys very endearing characters.
Mary Tichey-Staack, LMS Branchville Elementary Ridgefield, CT mticheystaack at ridgefield.org currently reading: Inkdeath by Funke
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Judith Ridge Sent: Tue 10/21/2008 6:20 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] Macbeth for children?
2008/10/22 <cmcalist at guilford.edu>
> Has anyone else read The Mistmantle Chronicles? I can't remember the
name
> of the author. I read one in a mother daughter reading group and it
was a
> retelling of Macbeth with squirrels and moles etc. for characters. I
just
> don't think Macbeth is a good story to retell for young children
Actually, the Bell Shakespeare company (an leading Australian theatre company) is currently staging an extremely successful production of Macbeth for children, called "Just Macbeth". It was developed in collaboration with our best-selling children's author, Andy Griffiths ("The Day My Bum Went Psycho", the "Just" series of short stories).
The play features the characters from Andy's "Just" short stories who are drawn into the world of Macbeth when they make and drink the witch's brew. I am yet to see the play myself, but I have friends who took their children
(11+) who all thought it was utterly brilliant. The murders were committed off stage, or with puppets. The Sydney Morning Herald review (link belows) says "*It is hard to conceive of a more appropriate production through which to introduce children to the theatre, let alone Shakespeare."*
Info about the production at:
http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/
The Sydney Morning Herald review:
*http://tinyurl.com/6xbdey*<http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/art s/arts-reviews/just-macbeth/2008/10/13/1223749910926.html>
And there's an interview with Andy here: *http://tinyurl.com/6xd7jw*
Judith
-- Judith Ridge Western Sydney Young People's Literature Officer Arts and Cultural Development Blacktown City Council PO Box 63 (62 Flushcombe Road) Blacktown NSW 2148 AUSTRALIA -- My work blog: http://westword.wordpress.com/ My personal blog: http://www.misrule.com.au/s9y/ My personal website: http://www.misrule.com.au <http://www.misrule.com.au/> _______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net -- Judith Ridge Western Sydney Young People's Literature Officer Arts and Cultural Development Blacktown City Council PO Box 63 (62 Flushcombe Road) Blacktown NSW 2148 AUSTRALIA -- My work blog: http://westword.wordpress.com/ My personal blog: http://www.misrule.com.au/s9y/ My personal website: http://www.misrule.com.auReceived on Wed 22 Oct 2008 08:24:46 AM CDT
