Much Ado

The percentage of Shakespeare that I readily understand at first reading or hearing is probably a lot lower than I fancy it to be—and yet I love it. Especially reading him when I can puzzle out what I think he’s saying on my own time, when I don’t have to keep pace with any actors. I’m not sure if my 15-year-old daughter feels quite the same intensity of affection for the Bard, but she’s a fan and lately she has been logging some serious hours as a co-producer of her school’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Her being out of the house so much short-changes me a bit on the domestic comedy/drama that has been an ever-replenishing source of inspirations for this column. So I thought maybe I’d be pay her back this week with an embarrassing compliment.

One the aspects of Elena’s personality that I’ve been most impressed with is her pleasure in being part of something greater than herself—and her willingness to take a few hits in pursuit of that. So, with her school’s excellent annual Shakespeare production, she wasn’t really interested in acting, but she was interested in participating. Last year, as a freshman, she joined the prop crew, which meant having to hunt around the city for just the right props. Not an easy or glamorous task. But what a great way to get confidence and experience in getting around the city.

The teacher who directs and oversees school’s Shakespeare productions is as demanding as she is talented—and Elena’s reward for doing a good job on props has been more responsibility and more yeoman’s work, but from what I can tell, she’s experiencing some life’s greatest lessons: How to work with others to produce something worth the effort.

The production runs for four days beginning on Thursday, and I could see how I might be turning into quite the parental embarrassment. In preparation, I’ve re-read the play, and am threatening to go twice. I’m also a big fan of the t-shirt that everyone in the production has earned, which cites one of the play’s more famous and juicy lines: “We are the only love gods.” I want one of those shirts!

Years ago Elena and I had one reliable source of parent-child bonding that always allowed us to transcend our sharper disagreements. That was Harry Potter. Bless him, it seems like William Shakespeare may have picked up the torch from J.K. Rowling.

Eric Messinger is the editor of  New York Family. He can be reached at [email protected]