English poet, playwright, and actor, William Shakespeare, left a lasting legacy on literature and the theater. Honoring “The Bard” and his influential works, Timber Creek High School held their annual Shakespeare Competition on Monday, January 30th in Mrs. Kee’s room. This is a part of the English Speaking Union (ESU) of the United States’ National Shakespeare competition. Through this event, the classic works of William Shakespeare transcended the Renaissance into the modern world.
Thirteen students competed for one prize: the chance to compete in a national competition hosted in New York City. To compete, students chose one monologue to perform from his 38 plays, as well as a Shakespearean sonnet. From A Midsummer Night’s Dream to The Tempest, Macbeth to Cleopatra, students represented a vast array of Shakespeare’s works.
The competition panel evaluated performers using a rubric provided by the ESU National Headquarters. “Students were evaluated on the understanding of the meaning of the speech, their understanding the character, the vocal expression, their physical expression, and poise while delivering the self-selected monologue,” said Timber Creek’s Shakespeare Competition representative Michelle Kee.
After performing and assessing the different approaches to Shakespeare’s works, the panel chose a winner: Jacob Wade. This TCHS junior read from “The Merchant of Venice,” a play about an Italian man, Antonio, who must pay off a debt. Wade took on the role of Shylock, a rich Jewish moneylender harboring a secret hatred for Antonio. “The most challenging part of this competition is finding a balance between reading the text and performing as a character,” said Wade. Evidently, he did an excellent job immersing himself in the Shakespearean world with his success in the competition.
The next step for Jacob Wade is to compete at the University Club in Winter Park on February 27th. Here, his Shakespearian skills will be put to the test against other school champions. The winner of the tri- county competition, hosted by ESU, will receive an all- expense paid trip to the national competition in New York City.