LET'S BE HONEST. For most middle-school students, Shakespeare is about as appealing as a super-sized helping of broccoli.
Even an enthusiastic drama teacher like Deb Hansen at Thompson Middle School uses the word "boring" when she talks about students' initial reaction to the Bard of Avon.
But that hasn't stopped Hansen from generating a great deal of enthusiasm for the school's spring play, "Romeo, You Idiot!" which debuts tonight at 7 p.m. and will run through Friday.
OK, as you can tell from the title, this isn't Shakespeare in the traditional sense. Actually, the author is a former humor columnist and comedian from Detroit named Tim Kochenderfer.
But the story is basically the same--except for a surprise ending--and there will be Renaissance costumes, a balcony scene and an assortment of Capulets and Montagues.
"Actually, we do the first five to eight minutes with the traditional Shakespearean language," said Hansen. "Then we go into a more modern version. There are brief lapses when characters return to the Shakespearean language, but then another character will tell them to 'snap out of it.' It's really very funny."
The cast includes about 30 seventh- and eighth-graders who were chosen from open auditions. More students, staff members and parent volunteers are helping in other ways to make sure the production runs smoothly.
Hansen has been at Thompson Middle School for four years. Before that, she taught high school drama in Spotsylvania County.
"In high school, you have more time to deal with Shakespeare," she said. "In those classes, sometimes I would dress up as one of the witches from 'Macbeth' and conduct class in character. As a drama teacher, you have to do whatever it takes to engage the students."
In Hansen's first three years at Thompson, the spring plays have been a drama about the Holocaust, "Guys and Dolls" and a murder mystery.
"This year, I wanted to do something different," she said. "And I felt obligated to give the students a taste of Shakespeare."
Hansen said she ordered lots of plays for consideration before making a selection.
"This one made me laugh out loud and that's always a good sign," she said. "Plus, I think a lot of the kids are more familiar with 'Romeo and Juliet' than most of Shakespeare's other works."
Cast members have been rehearsing after school for about five weeks in preparation for tonight's opening. The show will be performed again at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow and at 3:30 and 7 p.m. on Friday.
Tickets can be purchased at the door and admission is $3 for students and $4 for adults. Profits will help fund future productions. Thompson Middle School is located at 75 Walpole Street just off Courthouse Road.
When I spoke with Hansen last week she said rehearsals were going well and everyone was excited.
"Lines are memorized and we're down to just tweaking things now," she added.
I asked how she thought Shakespeare might respond if he were in the audience tonight.
"Oh, I think he would love it," she said with a laugh. "He wrote such great stories that appealed to so many people. That's why they still endure today.
"He wanted to engage people and entertain them. So, if our performance can do that, I think he would be pleased."
Hansen said she hoped this experience would make some of the students more curious about Shakespeare.
"I think anytime we can expose the kids to drama and the arts, it's a great thing," she said. "Most of them have not had a chance to be in a production like this before, so it's a good learning experience. And it's even beneficial to the students in the audience. Many of them have never seen live theater before."
Hansen is familiar with working on stage as well as behind the scenes. She grew up in a suburb of Chicago and began performing in community productions when she was 8 years old. She still occasionally performs with theater groups in the Fredericksburg area.
Hansen has been nominated for a fourth time for inclusion in the "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" publication. For this honor, teachers must be nominated by former students who currently are on a college dean's list or are themselves on a "Who's Who" listing of American students. Only 2 percent of the nation's teachers have been nominated more than once.
"These are kids who are strong achievers and they are nominating teachers who influenced them," Hansen said. "That's what makes it so special."
You don't have to talk with Hansen very long before it becomes clear that she has a passion for her job.
"I love what I do," she said. "I guess a love of performing is just something you are born with. Fortunately, I was allowed to pursue that interest at a young age and cultivate it."
For that she credits her parents, Dick and Carol Hedke. Both are retired teachers who moved to Stafford County about three years ago.
"Now, they come to every one of my productions," Hansen said. "They'll sit near the front and laugh at everything. They're the best audience I can have."
To reach LEE WOOLF: 540/720-5470 lwoolf@freelancestar.com