THE CINCINNATI BRANCH
OF THE
ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION
Shakespeare Competition Committee
To:
From: ESU Shakespeare Committee
Re: Shakespeare Competition
Date: November 11, 2002
Thank you for your interest and commitment to the Competition and your students! This memorandum is being sent to the schools that have entered the 2003 Shakespeare Competition sponsored by the Cincinnati Branch of the English-Speaking Union.
The next step in the competition is for your school to select a representative through an internal competition.
We are enclosing:
1) Instructions for the school competition;
2) List of the passages from Shakespeare from which students may select their monologues;
3) List of Shakespearean sonnets:
4) Guidelines for students, teachers, and judges;
5) Sample judges' evaluation sheets;
6) School result sheet. (To be mailed back to Shakespeare Chairs)
Chronology of Events and Requirements:
1. The competition within your school:
One memorized monologue and one memorized sonnet. Monologue must be 15-17 lines prose or 15-20 lines verse. This is strictly enforced by the National Shakespeare Competition. Winner and runner up must be listed on enclosed School Results sheet and mailed to address listed on the sheet.
THE RESULT SHEET WITH THE NAMES OF THE WINNER AND THE RUNNER-UP SHOULD BE MAILED TO: MS. JANICE FLANAGAN AND MR. BOB AMOTT, 1074 JACKSON RD., PARK HILLS, KY 41011, BY FEBRUARY 3, 2003. IF YOUR SCHOOL HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT DEADLINE PLEASE LET US KNOW.
2. Semi finals:
Saturday, February 22, 2003 at 9 a.m. Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival Theatre at 719 Race Street in downtown Cincinnati. One memorized monologue and one memorized sonnet. Monologue must be 15-17 lines prose or 15-20 lines verse. There will be a monitor at the Cincinnati competition. Any contestant who goes over 17 lines prose or 20 lines verse will be STOPPED AND DISQUALIFIED. Six semifinalists will be chosen.
3. Finals:
Saturday, March 1, 2003 at 12 noon. Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival Theatre at 719 Race Street in downtown Cincinnati. The same memorized monologue and memorized sonnet performed at semi finals must be used. Remember that requirement 15-17 lines prose or 15-20 lines verse must be strictly observed. Also there will be one sight reading chosen that day.
All six finalists will receive awards:
1st Prize. $1000 scholarship. Represent Cincinnati ESU branch at National Competition in New York City the weekend of April 26-28th, 2003.
2nd Prize. $500.
3rd Prize. $250.
Three runner-ups. Each to receive a copy of the Riverside Shakespeare.
Teachers of top three winners also receive awards:
1st Prize. $200
2nd Prize. $100
3rd Prize. $75.
4. National Competition:
New York City weekend of April 26-28th, 2003. Winner will be flown to NYC. Performance of same memorized monologue and memorized sonnet as performed for Cincinnati competition. More extensive instructions will be given to winner at the Cincinnati finals.
Janice Flanagan & Bob Amott (859)-291-0621
Robert & Eileen McCarthy (513) 533-3515
SHAKESPEARE ‘03
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SCHOOL COMPETITION
GENERAL
The purpose of the competition is to interest today's students in Shakespeare, his dramatic and poetic art, his universality, and his use of the English language. Students should be encouraged to bring Shakespeare to life and to express his words with feeling and comprehension.
Gesture and movement should be natural. Students need not affect accents not their own. They should be advised to project and to speak with the clarity necessary to communicate with an audience. They should not wear costumes, nor should they have props of any kind, including chairs. Prompting is permitted, and at the semifinals a chair will be provided near the stage for successive prompters accompanying contestants.
Each student should memorize and enact one speech from the list entitled "Selections for School Competitions. "The list is enclosed. It is strongly recommended that the student be familiar with the play from which the speech is taken. The teacher also may require recitation of a sonnet in the school competition. The school winner will be required to recite a sonnet for the semifinals so we believe it is in the student’s best interest to be required to recite a sonnet for the school competition as well.
The introduction to the monologue should be limited to two sentences. The student should identify the selection. A second sentence setting the piece in the play may be added but is not required.
EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE
The competition should be judged by a panel of three to five judges, which may include teachers, actors, directors, parents, or others in the community who are interested in and knowledgeable about Shakespeare. Sample judging criteria are enclosed. ONLY ONE STUDENT FROM EACH SCHOOL MAY BE ENTERED 1N THE SEMIFINALS, BUT A RUNNER-UP SHOULD BE SELECTED IN THE EVENT THAT THE SCHOOL WINNER IS UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
The information on the school winner should be provided on the “School Result Sheet” enclosed and returned to Ms. Janice Flanagan & Mr. Bob Amott, 1074 Jackson Road, Park Hills, KY 41011 by February 3, 2003 (if the deadline is a problem, please contact the committee).
SHAKESPEARE ’03
SELECTIONS FOR THE SEMIFINAL AND FINAL COMPETITIONS
(Students should memorize one speech from among those listed.)
(Please note: New rules by National: Lines not to exceed 17 prose, 20 lines verse)
FOR WOMEN:
1. MERCHANT OF VENICE: Act IV, Scene I, Lines 184-202
Portia: “The quality of mercy is not strain’d,” – “the deeds of mercy.”
2. MACBETH: Act I, Scene V, Lines 38-58
Lady Macbeth: “The raven himself is hoarse” – “in the instant.”
3. THE WINTER’S TALE: Act III, Scene II, Lines 91-108
Hermione: “Sir, spare your threats” – “I should fear to die?”
4. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA: Act V, Scene II, Lines 280-298
Cleopatra: “Give me my robe” – “leave-taking.”
5. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: Act III, Scene 2, Lines 145-161
Helena: “O spite! O hell!,” – “all to make you sport.”
FOR MEN:
1. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR: Act III, Scene V, Lines 3-18
Falstaff: “Go fetch me a quart of sack” – “a mountain of mummy.”
2. KING LEAR: Act I, Scene IV, Lines 275-289
King Lear: “Hear, Nature, hear,” – “a thankless child! – Away, away!”
3. TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA: Act II, Scene IV, Lines 192-210
Proteus: “Even as one heat” – “my reason’s light;”
4. OTHELLO: Act V, Scene II, Lines 338-356
Othello: “Soft you” – “smote him – thus.”
5. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW: Act IV, Scene I, Lines 190-209
Petruchio: “My falcon now” – “headstrong humor.”
FOR EITHER SEX:
1. THE TEMPEST: Act I, Scene II, Lines 330-344
Caliban: “I must eat my dinner” - “…the rest o’ th’ island.”
Line numbers may vary with editions.
For accuracy we recommend the Riverside Shakespeare.
SHAKESPEARE ’03
SONNET SELECTIONS FOR THE SEMIFINAL AND FINAL COMPETITIONS
SONNET: The sonnet, as the presentation of an idea, has no dramatic context and so should be recited. Students should focus on theme rather than on character; they should convey thought instead of action. Accuracy is important.
Please Note: In past years, movement during the sonnet had been discouraged. The rules of The National Shakespeare Competition have changed to allow competitors to use movement and gesture if they feel it will enhance delivery of the sonnet.
(Students should memorize one sonnet from among those listed.)
1. “No Longer Mourn for Me When I Am Dead” (#71)
2. “Some Glory in Their Birth, Some in Their Skill” (#91)
3. “They That Have Pow’r to Hurt, and Will Do None,” (#94)
4. “To Me, Fair Friend, You Never Can Be Old,” (#104)
5. “When in the Chronicle of Wasted Time” (#106)
SHAKESPEARE ’03
NOTE TO TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND JUDGES
Students should identify their selections before they begin their presentation. Any introduction should be limited to two sentences. The pieces may be performed in any order.
Monologue - The monologue, taken from a play, is spoken by a character. By definition, it should be acted. The student should convey the personality of the character and the action of the scene through the use of voice and body. Overacting should be avoided.
GUIDELINES FOR JUDGES
Judges should consider the following aspects of the performance:
1. Understanding of content
- Convincing characterization
- Ability to make emotional transitions as needed
- Emotional level appropriate to speech
2. Use of voice
- Diction
- Emphasis
- Timing and rhythm
3. Use of body
Does the performer embody the character and the situation through effective use of:
- Movement
- Facial expression
- Gesture
SHAKESPEARE '03
JUDGE'S RATING SHEET
Contestant # __________ Shakespearean Passage: __________
For the dramatic monologue, each student is rated out of twenty-five points. Fifteen of these are allotted by section, as set out below, and the final ten upon the overall impression. The total represents the standing of the competitor.
THE DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE
Excellent Very Good Good Adequate Inadequate
l. Understanding of content 5 4 3 2 0
2. Use of voice 5 4 3 2 0
3. Use of body 5 4 3 2 0
THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE 10 8 6 4 0
PERFORMANCE
TOTAL: __________
For the sonnet, each student is rated out of twenty points. Ten of these are allotted by section, as set out below, and the final ten upon the overall impression. The total represents the standing of the competitor.
Please Note: In past years, movement during the sonnet had been discouraged. The rules of The National Shakespeare Competition have changed to allow competitors to use movement and gesture if they feel it will enhance delivery of the sonnet.
THE SONNET
Excellent Very Good Good Adequate Inadequate
1. Understanding of content 5 4 3 2 0
2. Use of voice 5 4 3 2 0
THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE 10 8 6 4 0
RECITATION
TOTAL: __________
TOTAL FOR MONOLOGUE AND SONNET: __________
JUDGE'S COMMENTS:
DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE:
SONNET:
SHAKESPEARE ‘03
SCHOOL RESULT SHEET
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE)
NAME OF SCHOOL ____________________________________________________________
NAME OF WINNER ___________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER ____________________________________________________
SELECTION RECITED BY WINNER _______________________________________________
NAME OF RUNNER-UP _________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER ____________________________________________________
NAME OF TEACHER IN CHARGE OF COMPETITION ________________________________
DATE OF COMPETITION _______________________________________________________
NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN COMPETITION ________________________________________
10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
TIME OF DAY COMPETITION HELD ______________________________________________
SETTING FOR COMPETITION ___________________________________________________
SEPARATE EVENT ASSEMBLY CLASS PERIOD ____________________________________
NUMBER IN AUDIENCE ________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF JUDGES ______________________________ TEACHERS
OTHERS _____________________________________________________________________
(describe)
TO BE RETURNED BY FEBRUARY 3, 2003 TO MS. JANICE FLANAGAN AND MR. BOB AMOTT, 1074 JACKSON RD., PARK HILLS, KY 41011. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS DEADLINE, PLEASE CONTACT :
Robert & Eileen McCarthy (513) 533-3515 or
Janice Flanagan & Bob Amott (859)-291-0621