Students become one with the Bard at lecture series

Oxnard College students explored Elizabethan history and dissected Shakespearian rhetoric brought forth by two theatre arts experts in a mini-workshop held at the Oxnard College Literature, Arts & Lecture Series on March 3.

Willow Greer and Mike Peebler from the Theatricum Botanicum, a repertory theatre nestled in Topanga, hosted the discussion in “Shakespeare’s Life & Language.”

“I have noticed that performing arts are always first to go in budget cuts and this is sad. We are trying to keep it alive," said Peebler. “We do lots of educational programming and to see such confidence evolve in a person is very important. Inspiration in the arts means understanding something in yourself.”

Peebler handed out extracts of Act 2: Scene 2 from “Hamlet” and had students participate in the break-down of Shakespeare’s dialogue.

Greer gathered the students in a circle and showed them a traditional Elizabethan (Galliard) dance and courtship gestures. Later, she divulged detailed history that pertained to that specific era.

The two educators explained that Shakespeare has long been misinterpreted and misunderstood. In their assertion, they also mentioned that secret decoding of Shakespeare’s verses is critical to delivering a phenomenal performance as a thespian.

 Elissa Caruth, an English Literature professor believed students were confidently engaged in the activities and portrayed great depth of knowledge in the Shakespearean field.

 “Shakespeare is everywhere in America,” she said. “From pop culture and the Lion King, to Madonna and O.J. Simpson. Shakespeare shapes, informs and reflects American Culture today.”