Sherlock's play was yesterday afternoon. It was...roughly what you would expect from a play written and performed by four, five, and six year olds. Very colourful, a bit chaotic, a certain number of forgotten lines, upsets, and tears. All in all though, I thought they did brilliantly.
The story went something like this: Hamlet's father (a ghost) tells Hamlet that his brother (Hamlet's uncle, Claudius) is in league with pirates. There is a duel between Hamlet and his uncle, and then between Hamlet and the queen, his mother, and then between Hamlet and Polonius. Polonius is fatally wounded and has an extended death scene wherein he wills all his swords to his daughter Laertes and all his animals (including moose) to his son, Ophelius (played by Sherlock).
Laertes burns down Hamlet's castle with a lot of billowing silk fire, and Ophelius rides his moose up-river to where the pirates are moored. He unleashes various forms of animal life upon them. Many duels are fought. I'm pretty sure everyone in the play got to have a sword fight at one point or another, and I'm very sure they planned it that way.
In the end, despite the death of their father, Laertes and Ophelius join forces with Hamlet against their common foes of pirates and evil uncles, vanquish them, and...I think go to live in a treehouse. Not quite sure about that part though.
It was very, very loud, and reasonably entertaining, even when I wasn't quite sure what was happening. Sherlock rode his moosercycle very responsibly and at a safe speed down a river of blue cotton fabric (with very faint floral pattern), and relinquished it at the end of the play with only the mild whinging of the overtired, rather than a full-blown tantrum as I'd feared.
We went to the park, had ice cream and pizza, and came home. The end.
The story went something like this: Hamlet's father (a ghost) tells Hamlet that his brother (Hamlet's uncle, Claudius) is in league with pirates. There is a duel between Hamlet and his uncle, and then between Hamlet and the queen, his mother, and then between Hamlet and Polonius. Polonius is fatally wounded and has an extended death scene wherein he wills all his swords to his daughter Laertes and all his animals (including moose) to his son, Ophelius (played by Sherlock).
Laertes burns down Hamlet's castle with a lot of billowing silk fire, and Ophelius rides his moose up-river to where the pirates are moored. He unleashes various forms of animal life upon them. Many duels are fought. I'm pretty sure everyone in the play got to have a sword fight at one point or another, and I'm very sure they planned it that way.
In the end, despite the death of their father, Laertes and Ophelius join forces with Hamlet against their common foes of pirates and evil uncles, vanquish them, and...I think go to live in a treehouse. Not quite sure about that part though.
It was very, very loud, and reasonably entertaining, even when I wasn't quite sure what was happening. Sherlock rode his moosercycle very responsibly and at a safe speed down a river of blue cotton fabric (with very faint floral pattern), and relinquished it at the end of the play with only the mild whinging of the overtired, rather than a full-blown tantrum as I'd feared.
We went to the park, had ice cream and pizza, and came home. The end.
18 comments:
I understand slightly more now than I did yesterday...
It was nice just seeing them all have fun.
Sherlock explained a lot of it to me and Mycroft while you were ordering pizza. I can't pretend I picked up all that while actually watching it. The sword fights were the main point I think.
Yeah, that was the best part. :)
Ah, insider information!
I'll put the moose head up at some point. I think he wants his sword on the wall, too.
Well, naturally. Who wouldn't, after taking out all those pirates?
I have a feeling there was also friendly fire incidents in that fight... I think it was every man for himself!
I think Sherlock left a half-written post about today saved on my blog, before being distracted by food earlier. I might finish it. Perhaps remove some of the capslock...
If I write one tomorrow, you may have to edit that for capslock as well. Maybe I'll just let Sherlock speak for all of us.
Has something happened?
Lancs. Anon
Nothing bad! Just a trip to a bike place, where we all got to ride and get moderately dirty this time, including the boys.
Well that sounds fairly awesome!
Lancs. Anon
It definitely was! Hence the capslock and occasional vrooming noises.
I've posted Sherlock's account. With some capslock left in. But sadly without sound effects.
The play sounds amazing and very impressive for such young children :-) Sherlock is growing up into such a lovely young man, you must both be very good for him :-)
He and Mycroft are both young men I'm proud to be associated with.
He'll undoubtedly be mortified at me saying so, but Mycroft has been doing so well at Harrow, some of his masters speak of him in hushed tones... one of them said he'd never met a young man with such a broad range of knowledge and depth of understanding.
I have no doubt that Mycroft is a remarkable young man and the fact that he feels shy about people saying it is probably the most telling part of it.
I'm so glad school is going so well for him :-)
The play sounds like enormous fun for all concerned--thank you very much for the recap, John. :)
And well done, all around, Sherlock! Wasn't it fun, being both part of the play creation team and acting? And getting to ride a moose(rcycle) on stage, that must have been super-exciting, so that's extra points to you, for not getting carried away by it all and remembering to be careful and responsible!
May I say, Mycroft--I'm not in the tiniest bit surprised at Lestrade's report. :)
John - Thanks for sharing the play's review; it sounds like everyone had a lot of fun, choas and sword-swinging included.
Mycroft - Modesty is a good trait to have, but sometimes you have to just accept the facts: you're a wonderful, brillant young man with a sharp mind and a kind heart. :)
Sherlock - So I'll be off to read all about your adventures on Lestrade's blog in a bit; talk to you there!
Greg (and John) - You're fantastic parents, you know?
~ A from NW (who feels human again)
Being responsible about the moosercycle in the play paid off very quickly indeed! Excellent.
I think I would rather see Sherlock and his classmates' version of Hamlet. Although there is going to be a performance of the "Bad Quarto" version in Boston soon. Too bad it won't have any moose.
rsf
The play sounds like it was fantastic fun...for everyone and I would love to have seen the moosercycle...well done for riding it responsibly Sherlock...
And I think the only circumstances under which "friendly fire incident" can be said to be amusing is with a bunch of five and six year olds with fake swords - I'm glad everyone got a chance to wield a sword, that's what it's all about at that age...
Post a Comment