ELYSIAN PARK : Shakespeare--As They Like It

The actors wore jeans and high-top tennis shoes as they pondered, “To be or not to be.” And some hip-hop moves found their way into the Elizabethan dances.

It was much ado about the Bard last week as 1,000 junior high school students from throughout the city attended an outdoor Shakespeare workshop conducted over four days in Elysian Park.

Actors from the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga conducted the workshop, which strives to familiarize students with Shakespeare’s works and teach them to enjoy the plays. Created in 1979, the Will Geer “School Days” program now reaches more than 6,000 students annually, both at the Topanga theater and Elysian Park.

Schools pay $11 per student for the workshop, which is also funded in part by a grant from the city Cultural Affairs Department. This year, the city gave $12,000 to the program. The half-day sessions begin with a “living history” presentation, in which actors portraying Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth explain the background of the works. The students then break into groups and learn stage movement and combat, mime, dance and improvisation from the actors.

During the combat sessions, the actors teach the students how to throw fake punches and kicks and wrestle without hurting each other. The actors emphasize control and safety and repeatedly urge the students to keep eye contact.

At Wednesday’s workshop, Ted Barton taught his group of students to throw a punch past the face and thump on the chest with the other hand to simulate the hitting noise.

“People who get punched, you’re in charge of the acting,” Barton told the students as they stood in pairs, ready to practice what they learned. “You’ve got to sell this to the audience. This is where screams come in.”

Barton counted to three and the fake punches flew. Those who had been “hit” staggered back and let out groans.

Barton offered praise but wasn’t quite satisfied. “I want even bigger reactions from you people,” he said enthusiastically.

His students obliged. One youth even rolled on the ground, soliciting a “Nice roll--yeah!” from Barton.

Across the way, another group learned Elizabethan minuet-like dances, in which they linked hands, formed a circle and walked to and from the middle. But rather than using traditionally slow, stately steps, some of the students added hip-hop moves as they promenaded back and forth.

After eating a quick picnic lunch, the students watched the actors perform “Hamlet.” They giggled when the denim-clad Hamlet embraced Ophelia, yelled “eeeuuuuw!” when Hamlet kissed his stepfather Claudius on the lips, and fell silent during the final fencing scene between Hamlet and Laertes.

Many of the students said they had already seen and enjoyed another performance of “Hamlet” before attending the workshop. While Shanika Vaughn, 13, found the play “simple” to understand, fellow Carver student William Villanueva, also 13, said, “You’ve got to really focus on the point of the discussion.”

Yolanda Moya, Carver assistant principal, said the workshop helps schools teach English literature in a more effective manner. “It really ties into the curriculum,” she said. “I think it really comes alive for the students, and they see a progression of things. The kids were really watching and listening.”

Afterward, the students discuss in class what they saw and learned, Moya said. Carver was able to send 60 seventh-graders to the workshop this year thanks to a grant from the Golden State Minority Foundation. She said she hopes to double the number next year.

Barton said he initially thought youths would be apathetic about Shakespeare. But he said has been pleased by the response.

“I’m always impressed . . . how enthusiastic the kids are,” he said.