Shakespeare Helps Class Master English

In a series of performances that were both literal and symbolic demonstrations of how far they have come, a class of 31 fifth-graders at Gridley Street Elementary School presented their version of Shakespeare’s “MacBeth” this week.

“These kids are all what the [Los Angeles Unified School District] calls transition students,” said Joe Martinez, their teacher and drama coach. “They start the year with the class being taught 80% in Spanish. By Christmas it’s half and half, and by the end of the year, 90% of the instruction is in English.”

Now in its fifth year, Gridley’s mini-Shakespeare festival gives the students an opportunity to show their teachers, parents and fellow students what they have learned. It also gives them the confidence to know that they are ready for middle school, Martinez said.

“If they can perform a Shakespeare play at the end of the year, then everything else should be a piece of cake,” Martinez said.

The 45-minute performance, based on a children’s version of Shakespeare’s work, was action-packed from beginning to end.

Martinez said he initially had some reservations about having fifth-graders perform “MacBeth” because of its violent content.

“We thought that the subject matter might be a little much, but the kids have just eaten it up,” he said. “They like it better than ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and the others we have done in the past.”

“I liked doing the sword-fighting best,” said Juan Carlos Rascon, who donned a cape, crown and fake beard for his role as MacBeth.

“Doing the play is fun and it helps with tests because you learn to memorize things better,” Juan Carlos said.

Gridley Principal Victoria Verches said the annual Shakespeare performances have become an important part of the school’s fifth-grade curriculum.

“One of the things we try to do is promote the arts, which have been cut back,” said Verches. “The children are always excited to participate in this.”