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I'm pretty sure that Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. I even explained in detail to my fifth grade students WHY it was a tragedy. So, what made them laugh uproariously when I read this playbook to them, and beg me to allow them to perform it? Brendan Kelso's writing, of course! Even kids with stage fright will not be afraid to be in this play...after all, there's sword fights, great death scenes, lots of humor, and a marriage that ends in a high five. As an elementary school gifted resource education teacher, I wanted my students to be aware of William Shakespeare and his contributions to the world of writing. I hoped to give them just enough background knowledge to make middle and high school Shakespeare units exciting for them. It was difficult to find Shakespearean resources for elementary school students, and I was fortunate to find this resource through Amazon.com. Kelso takes Shakespeare's masterpieces and turns them into modern day plays, incorporating Shakespeare's most famous lines. His books feature three ten minute plays, built around cast size. I have all of his books (and REALLY need him to finish Julius Caesar and move on to Hamlet) and I am thoroughly enjoying using them with my students. I can't recommend them highly enough! They are teacher/student friendly and economically priced. In addition, the website for the series has a plethora of resources for lessons on Shakespeare. So, SHAKE UP your class and purchase this series. Your students will thoroughly enjoy it! - Amazon Review I've done several musicals with my Drama Club, so I wasn't sure how our group of 5th & 6th graders would respond to Shakespeare. Along with the other parents, I was absolutely blown away with how they took to this play. Not only did they love the original Shakespeare, they also loved the creative license that Mr. Kelso encourages them to take in making this play their own. And, of course, they loved the dying! Of the 15+ plays of done in the last 3 years, this one is my new favorite. I was worried about not doing a musical, but I found Kelso's version of Romeo & Juliet to be much easier to produce. I can't wait to try some more. I enthusiastically recommend this play. -Amazon Review I directed Romeo & Juliet for Kids for a competition piece with 5,6,7 and 8 graders. I loved the flexible casts! The intimidation of Shakespeare's language was completely set aside by the cast as Mr Kelso makes the language clear and yet is still able to incorporate several of the most famous lines the Bard wrote. The kids were very interested as to why things were put the way they were at that time - for example: Do you bite your thumb at me, sir? - wow - that was the line that really fascinated them and the provenance thereof. I heard it around the school for several weeks afterwards! Another example: all the kids had heard Juliet's balcony lament - but now they learned that Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? doesn't mean Romeo where are you?, it means why are you called Romeo Montague - the enemy ! Boy - were they surprised but the lights went on!! It made them more attuned to other similar lines. The kids also really enjoyed the stage fighting, dying and over-the-top performances the script required. I applaud Mr Kelso with his affinity for this age group and for enabling these children to look forward to reading Shakespeare in later years for school. - Amazon Review The three plays in this book require a minimum of 6players - in my family, that means a couple of friends get roped in, and maybe even Dad. ( Listening to my kids teach their friends Romeo and Juliet is a joy. Listening to my kids throw Shakespeare quotes around at mealtime: Bliss.) Have a lot of fun with this book. It is perfect for: family reunions, coed dinner parties/game nights, thanksgiving entertainment. Super easy path to laughter. -Amazon review

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