A Midsummer's Night Dream...

[Michelle in AL]

I'll be teaching this, I think, next spring. We are to see a play though in 2 weeks. After reading the storyline on Wikipedia, it appears it could be interpreted in a racy manner. Would a traditional rendering of this play be appropriate for gr7 and up?

What about the book itself? Anything inappropriate in there, that conservative families would object to? I've read Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth and am fine with how they are written.

[Jane in NC]

The Kevin Kline/Michelle Pfeiffer film version was rated PG-13 for the reasons you state.

I saw the play performed in Stratford, Ontario a few years ago. My then seventh grade son attended with no discomfort on my part.

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Jane, any other opinions?

[Julie in MN]

I agree that the play is comical and okay for kids. My elementary kids have seen it at Shakespeare in the Park. Good actors will be attuned to their audience & make it silly & exaggerated for children. If they don't, you can always whisper a bit about funny stuff like falling in love with the first thing you see, and not realizing the donkey's head!

Julie

[Lizzie in Ma]

Shakespeare is often "bawdy" and there is no getting around it. That said, MND is one of our very favorites and my dc adore the Kevin Kline movie. I allowed it very early and they always understood it to be silly, including the very slightly racy scenes.

[Cedarmom]

Well ...it is Shakespeare...so yes there are some bawdy parts. Compared to today's Movies, nothing. But , yes some lines have inuendo. Saying all that, I love it, and would not hesitate to take my 7th grader.