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Presents The Adventures of Don Quixote By Steven Fogell Appalachian State University Department of Theatre & Dance Spring 2014 Appalachian Young People’s Theatre Who we are and what we do. "Theatre, the imagined and enacted world of human beings, is one of the primary ways children learn about life - about actions and consequences, about customs and beliefs, about others and themselves." -National Theatre Standards for Arts Education The Appalachian Young People's Theatre is committed to bringing high quality, low-cost live theatre experiences to young audiences in North Carolina and the surrounding region. The A.Y.P.T. touring program has been offered as part of the Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance curriculum since 1972. The mission of Appalachian Young People's Theatre is to produce a variety of quality plays with educational value including fairy tales, folk tales, audience participation plays, and musicals primarily for elementary school audiences. A.Y.P.T.'s productions are seen by up to 6,500 young people each spring, largely in rural areas. The company consists of dedicated undergraduate students from the Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian under the direction of Professor Teresa Lee. If you would like more information or have questions concerning the play or this study guide, please let us know. Also letters and/or pictures and projects made by your students are always welcome and most appreciated! Contact Teresa Lee Director of Appalachian Young People's Theatre Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance Boone, NC 28608 ! (828) 262-6376 ! Email: [email protected] ! 2! Teachers! This performance study guide provides some background information about the play and our company as well as activities, which can be integrated into your curriculum. These activities are intended to further the students’ appreciation of the play as well as introduce to both the teacher and the student the many ways in which drama can be incorporated into the classroom. We believe that this experience should encourage creativity, nourish an appreciation of live theatre, and allow a further insight into ourselves, resulting in the cultural enrichment of our young people. Since our audiences range in grade levels, we have included a variety of activities. We encourage you to choose and use the information and age-appropriate activities in a way that will best suit the needs of your students. Feel free to photocopy any part of this booklet for educational purposes. To know more about our program, please visit: http://www.theatre.appstate.edu/appalachian-young-peoples-theatre Table of Contents Who We Are and What We Do………..….Page 2 Table of Contents…………………………..Page 3 Background & Synopsis………….…..……Page 4 The World of Don Quixote .………...…..Page 5-6 Before the Performance Activities…...……Page 7 After the Performance Activities ….……....Page 8 Cross Curricular Activities & Resources…...Page 9 Word Search………………………………..Page 10 Crossword Puzzle……………………….….Page 11 Theatre in Our Schools Month….….……...Page 12 Production Program………………..…........Page 13 Director’s Note…………………….…..…....Page 14 ! 3! Background of the Author and the Book Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet and playwright. In his early years he was a soldier, having fought at the Battle of Lepanto where he received serious wounds and lost his left hand. In 1575 he was captured and imprisoned in Algiers for five years and made four daring attempts to escape. Ransomed by his family, he returned to Madrid, but was hampered by his disability. It is said he wrote the first part of Don Quixote in prison in Argamasilla in La Mancha. The first part of Don Quixote was published in 1605 when Cervantes was 57 years old, and soon became a success. It first came out when Shakespeare had just finished writing Macbeth. Cervantes completed the second part of Don Quixote in 1615, just a year before his death. Don Quixote, considered the first modern European novel, was recently voted by a poll of the world’s leading authors as the most important multicultural publication of the 17th century. Although published some 400 years ago in Spanish, this parody of the chivalrous life remains amazingly familiar in translations today – perhaps from the extensive influence it has played over the centuries on novelists like Mark Twain, such artists as Gustave Dore and Pablo Picasso, and even composers – Richard Strauss is one. Or perhaps it lives because of its eternal story of the childlike and comic view of a decayed world by a madman stuck in a golden past. Synopsis of the Play The story begins with a young boy named Kendrick who meets an old man, Alonso Quijano, who claims he is to become a knight. Kendrick does not believe him until a magical book produces a suit of armor. Alonso Quijano is then transformed into Don Quixote de La Mancha. Don Quixote proclaims Kendrick to be his squire named Sancho, and they set out upon a quest. Also appearing is Don Quixote's trusty steed, Rocinante. Along the way they meet Aldonza, a laundry maid. Don Quixote believes she is the enchanted Dulcinea, a woman of beauty and virtue. Our unlikely pair journey on through Spain until Don Quixote has a disastrous fight with a windmill, which he mistakes as a giant. Seeking rest and food, they make their way to an inn, seen as a castle by Don Quixote. After much debate the Innkeeper dubs Don Quixote as a true knight. Don Quixote sees the Innkeeper as a true King. Dulcinea appears once more and warns Don Quixote of the Dark Knight of Mirrors who is set on stopping and destroying him. In a great battle Sancho and Don Quixote come face to face with a dragon, and the Dark Knight, who turns out to be someone other than expected. The Don is made to face what is real and what is his imagination. ! 4! The World of Don Quixote Vocabulary and Phrases Knight Errant – a knight traveling in search of adventures in which to exhibit military skill bravery, and generosity Quest – a journey in pursuit of adventure Squire – a young man who served a medieval knight as an attendant Chivalry – the noble qualities of a knight, such as courage, honor, and readiness to help and protect the weak. Honor – high regard or great respect given, a keen sense of right and wrong Virtue – general excellence, right action and thinking, goodness Steed – a spirited riding horse Peasant – any person of the class of farmer or farm laborer Joust – a combat with lances between knights Bravery – the quality of not being afraid, being able to face danger Destiny – an inevitable outcome that the future will bring These phrases, created and translated from Cervantes’ original Spanish text are used in the production. See how many are still used in today’s conversations. • A wild goose chase • The sky’s the limit • Mind your own business • You've seen nothing yet • Think before you speak Training for a Squire While there are few detailed accounts of a squire's training, this undated medieval Fragment by John Harding yields a good timeline upon which a young nobleman found the stages of his training. • Age 4, he enters a kind of school to learn to read and write • Age 6, he continues his training and learns to carve at the table, serving as a page. This was often done under the supervision of the lady of a castle, who had charge of the page training. • Age 14, he is taught to hunt. Stalking the quarry in preparation for training with weapons for war, which would begin around the age of 16 or younger. • Between 18 and 24, a page would likely be knighted by a local knight or if he is very lucky, by a greater noble or even the king Many knights did not live past 30 years of age. Disease, battles, and poor living conditions killed many. ! 5! Being a Knight It is said that real knights date back as far as the 12th century. In this time knights were men who possessed weapons and the proper skills to use them. Skill with sword, lance, and horse were the basic requirements for knighthood, more than a focus toward an ideal. From the earliest days of what might be called the chivalric tradition, any knight could make another man a knight. Many knights were made on the battlefield for brave actions or fighting skill. But there was honor to be gained in being knighted by a King or particular renown or by a powerful nobleman whose reputation as a knight brought him fame. There was no centralized registry of knights, nor was the ceremony an absolute requirement. The idea that a knighthood needed to be obtained through particular channels came with the Renaissance. English knights began to obtain their station directly from the crown. These knights varied in quality as surely as did the medieval ones. As in the Middle Ages, some followed some kind of romantic ideal while others held the attitude that only performances on the battlefield counted. Knights of both types all ultimately failed to achieve the perfection of their ideal, whether it was a purely martial image or a more philosophical one, but they could succeed in the betterment of themselves and of their world, and this was the function of knighthood. Masked Actors Many actors perform in masks to become another character quickly. All sorts of theatre masks date back to primitive cultures. In The Adventures of Don Quixote the Don wears a mask in the beginning to portray an old man, and Antonia wears a masked helmet to become the Knight of the Mirrors. The Don Quixote mask in this production comes from a style of theatre known as Commedia dell' Arte, or "Italian Comedy." This was a humorous theatrical presentation performed by professional players who traveled in troupes throughout Italy in the 16th Century. Masks forced the actors to project their characters' emotions through the body. Leaps, tumbles, stock gags, extreme gestures, and slapstick antics were incorporated into their acts. The masks had very precise features to portray a certain style of person. For example, Don Quixote's mask was a Pantalone mask: representing the character of an old man. This mask, usually made of leather, showed these characteristics with exaggerated eyebrows and a long wrinkled face. ! 6! Before the Performance… Theatre Vocabulary • Actor/Actress: A person who portrays characters in plays, movies, etc. • Character: A make-believe person portrayed in a play. • Protagonist: The main character or hero in a drama or other literary work. • Antagonist: The principal character in opposition to the protagonist of a narrative or drama. • Theme: The central point, or idea expressed in the play. • Prop/Property: A movable object used by actors within a play to enhance the visual experience. • Set: The place that the action occurs on stage created by scenery. • Set Designer: The person who creates the scenery for a show. • Costume Designer: The person who creates the costumes for a show. Discussion Questions • What is proper theatre audience etiquette? • What are the differences between watching movies/television and watching a live theatre performance? • What are some ways watching a live performance is different from reading a book? • How can stories change when they are adapted from literature to film and theatre? • In our version of the story, Don Quixote is really an elderly man named Alonso Quijano, who is losing his memory and merely thinks he is Don Quixote. Have you ever dealt with a grandparent or elder who has dealt with similar issues? What are some ways we can help these individuals? Write • What are some other stories you may know that include brave knights? Imagine you yourself are one of those knights, and then write a story about saving someone from danger. What is an obstacle that might stand in your way? Windmills? Maybe dragons? Perform • Theatre is another form of storytelling where the characters come to life before your very eyes. Pick your favorite story (or maybe a story written for the “write” section) and act it out for your classmates. To make it extra fun, try to include masks, costumes, props, some sound and specific voices or ways of speaking for each of the characters in your story. ! 7!