Shakespeare in a word

(M)y kids and I have come to the conclusion that we are probably the groundlings...we attend the free performances and laugh most heartily at the low-brow humor. The academic crowd may say what they want about Shakespeare; I say he's funny! :)

Charlotte Mason in the City

This quote in the comments of my previous post sums up our first family Shakespeare performance just about perfectly (except the free bit - it wasn't). Bell Shakespeare's contemporary interpretation of the original romantic comedy - Much Ado About Nothing was laugh-out-loud funny from the very first line. Toby Schmitz and Blazey Best were perfectly cast as the sharp tongued but loyal pair Benedick and Beatrice, and they owned the bard's archaic language as naturally as if it was their own.

Jemimah was on the edge of her seat for the entire performance, and Max Gillies' depiction of the bumbling Dogberry had her in tears of laughter. It was worth every cent of the ticket price just to see her sheer pleasure in being there.

As we travelled home in the car after the performance, I asked my family for a word to describe Shakespeare.

Jemimah :: Hilarious.
Daddy:: Entertaining.
Mummy:: Successful.

What more can I say? We'll be doing it again.