We saw Macbeth this week-end. It was the condensed one hour four person version shouted out in the park, and it was great. I got extremely tense for the half play we saw before it because David climbed a tree and could not stop talking. I couldn't reach him, shush him, or get him down. Not a good parenting moment. He and his buds ran to the playground between plays, and when they came back, they sat smack in the front row. That was actually fine. Aside from a few minutes pretending to shoot sticks at each other, they were completely immersed in the play.

Right before the play started I gave the kids a quick synopsis, a few key lines to listen for, and the riddle: How can a wood walk? How can a man not be of woman born? It's good to have a road map and a treasure hunt for a play like this.

I was afraid I had forgotten how to understand Shakespeare (despite being an English major and reading every darn Shakespeare play, several times each.) Much to my delight, I had no trouble following the plot, the psychological tension, or the humor. It didn't hurt that the actors were projecting hard. David also completely understood it and regaled grandma with a synopsis the next day. The best part was when Birnam wood starting walking, the actors handed David and friends branches to wave. They got to be part of the play.