Challenges

Ecstasy!
My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time,
And makes as healthful music: it is not madness
That I have utter'd: bring me to the test,
And I the matter will re-word; which madness
Would gambol from.

Hamlet, III.iv

The coincidence of the event date and the Shakespeare anniversaries made it inevitable that the challenges center around the Bard's dark side.

There's an all-new prepare-in-advance challenge, Speaking For-Seuss-ly, courtesy of John Inchingham.

Sources of the quotes embedded in the challenge titles (and elsewhere) can be found here.

Many challenges say simply "tell us of ...". In these cases, you can provide a song, poem, story, interpretive dance, or a piece in any other performing arts medium.

But for the sake of the Provost's upcoming stress hormone test, please observe the five-minute rule.

The quill bullet indicates a challenge with can/should be prepared in advance.

Fyt the First

A Tale Told by an Idiot (Pass the Tale)

All those who wish to participate get up together and tell a tale from beginning to end. The challenge's patron will 'conduct' by pointing to the person whose turn it is to continue the tale, and deciding when it is time to end.

The Lie Direct

In contrast to modern playwrights Shakespeare rarely has a character state something contrary to the facts as he or she knows them. When they do lie, the liar is usually a villain, and he or she will immediately tell us all about it. Lie to us, and tell us all about it.

At Last, Poor Yorick

Occasionally Shakespeare's characters have a chance to speak from beyond the grave - Julius Caesar wanders the battlefield at Philippi, the Ghost in Hamlet provides some essential exposition, even poor old Yorick is sometimes given voice onstage by a jocular Hamlet. Pull a historical or literary dead guy from a hat and give him or her a last chance to tell us what he thinks.

Fyt the Second

These Antique Fables (Period Piece)

Perform a documentably period piece of music, verse, story, or song. Dig out those reference books, blow off the dust (try not to sneeze), and see what wonderful and magical treasures you can find in them. There is a staggering amount of fantastic material out there. Find something, be it silly or sublime, and amaze us with it. Something from the English Renaissance, or Shakespeare-flavored, would be lovely.

A Walking Shadow, or Look Ma, No Hands

After its triumphant tour of Northern Oaken War Maneuvers, it's the return of Juliane Bechaumpe's Shakespeare Puppet Theater: Titus Andronicus Edition. Clean out the sock-puppet drawer, and we hope you have some red ones because this time you must dramatize a scene which is bloody, horrifying, or creepy. A suitable puppet stage will be provided.

Out, Out, Brief Birthday Candle

Shakespeare's birthday is reckoned to be April 23, not because he was born that day (probably not), but because it's St. George's day and also the date of his death. Tell us of another anniversary, person or incident that should be remembered correctly.

Fyt the Third

Such a Thing as I Myself: Form Challenge - Soliloquy

The form challenge usually imposes a rigid structure. By contrast, Shakespeare's soliloquys have a gloriously flexible meter which allows exploration of the inner being and moods of a character. A soliloquy is addressed directly to the audience and expresses what the speaker cannot say to anyone else. Choose or develop a character, set the scene if you like, and render unto us his or her darkest thoughts in verse. Definitions and examples

Immoment Toys - A Shakespeare Stir-Fry

Shakespeare coined over 1,700 words, and many are in common use today. But many aren't - they never caught on and their meaning isn't obvious.* Given a list of those words in the morning, do something creative with them, whether or not you know what they mean.

* "Immoment" is a terrific word. It means "of no moment, inconsequential"; the stress is on the second syllable. In all English literature, the only use is in Antony and Cleopatra.

Speaking For-Suess-ly

John Inchingham proposed this challenge:

Begin with a tale that's as common as "Smith" -
A story historical, fiction or myth -
Tell it re-written, but the form's not your choice.
Use the style of doctor we all know as Seuss!*

In other words, take a familiar tale and render as Doctor Seuss might have done.

* Theodore Geisel originally pronounced his pseudonym as in German, to rhyme with "Joyce". For a ~~tedious~~ fascinating examination of Geisel's verse forms, see the Wikipedia article on Suess.

The Most Unkindest Cut

His fellow actors claimed that Shakespeare wrote so fluidly that "he never blotted a line" (that is, he never edited). Ben Jonson responded, "Would he had blotted a thousand"*. Yes, even the Bard could have used an editor once in a while. In the morning you'll select one of three longish (possibly very bad) poems. Your job is to cut it down to something approximately sonnet length (although the form chosen is up to you).

Concert

The concert is your opportunity to perform pieces which may not "fyt" into any of the challenges.

Fyt the Fourth

Toasted Cheese, or "Lord, What Foods These Morsels Be!"

Feast time is traditionally when we raise our glasses on high to honor the crown and other deserving individuals. In addition to toasting our betters, tonight's topics will center on the feast menu itself and the challenge will be scattered through the meal. Forsoothliness is encouraged.

Silken Dalliance, or Feast-Wear

Have you ever envied Inchingham's checkered present or Amelie's fabulous hose, or wished you had chosen a barbarian persona? Maybe you never found an occasion to wear that Lizpunk outfit? Our "Come As You Aren't Party" is your chance to step out. For dinner* on Hallowe'en dress as something - or someone? - you totally are NOT**, and tell us about it.

* Or wear it all day. Come on, you can pull it off!

** Llyw will probably wear actual period garb

A Wholesome Answer

In the morning you'll draw a Shakespearean quote (one of the disturbing ones suitable to our occasion) which poses a question or a problem. Respond to it with two verses and a chorus.

Challenge General Rules

Sign-up for the challenges will be on the day of the event.
Challenges are not contests. You win by entering and striving to do the best you can.
Challenges are designed to encourage you to try your hand at something new, to stretch yourself, to enjoy, and to celebrate the creative spirit.
Read the guidelines for the challenges carefully. Trying to follow them as closely as you can is good, but sometimes stretching them in unexpected directions is even better.
Individuals are encouraged to give recognition to those performers whom they especially enjoy.
In order to allow the largest number of people to participate, challenge entries should be limited to five minutes or less (that includes the introduction).
Each person may enter only one piece per challenge and a maximum of five challenges.

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Fyt the First
	A Tale Told by an Idiot (Pass the Tale)
		All those who wish to participate get up together and tell a tale from beginning to end. The challenge's patron will 'conduct' by pointing to the person whose turn it is to continue the tale, and deciding when it is time to end.
	The Lie Direct
		In contrast to modern playwrights Shakespeare rarely has a character state something contrary to the facts as he or she knows them. When they do lie, the liar is usually a villain, and he or she will immediately tell us all about it. Lie to us, and tell us all about it.
	At Last, Poor Yorick
		Occasionally Shakespeare's characters have a chance to speak from beyond the grave - Julius Caesar wanders the battlefield at Philippi, the Ghost in Hamlet provides some essential exposition, even poor old Yorick is sometimes given voice onstage by a jocular Hamlet. Pull a historical or literary dead guy from a hat and give him or her a last chance to tell us what he thinks.
Fyt the Second
	These Antique Fables (Period Piece)
		Perform a documentably period piece of music, verse, story, or song. Dig out those reference books, blow off the dust (try not to sneeze), and see what wonderful and magical treasures you can find in them. There is a staggering amount of fantastic material out there. Find something, be it silly or sublime, and amaze us with it. Something from the English Renaissance, or Shakespeare-flavored, would be lovely.
	A Walking Shadow, or Look Ma, No Hands
		After its triumphant tour of Northern Oaken War Maneuvers, it's the return of Juliane Bechaumpe's Shakespeare Puppet Theater: Titus Andronicus Edition. Clean out the sock-puppet drawer, and we hope you have some red ones because this time you must dramatize a scene which is bloody, horrifying, or creepy. A suitable puppet stage will be provided.
	Out, Out, Brief Birthday Candle
		Shakespeare's birthday is reckoned to be April 23, not because he was born that day (probably not), but because it's St. George's day and also the date of his death. Tell us of another anniversary, person or incident that should be remembered correctly.
Fyt the Third
	Such a Thing as I Myself: Form Challenge - Soliloquy
		The form challenge usually imposes a rigid structure. By contrast, Shakespeare's soliloquys have a gloriously flexible meter which allows exploration of the inner being and moods of a character. A soliloquy is addressed directly to the audience and expresses what the speaker cannot say to anyone else. Choose or develop a character, set the scene if you like, and render unto us his or her darkest thoughts in verse. Definitions and examples
	Immoment Toys - A Shakespeare Stir-Fry
		Shakespeare coined over 1,700 words, and many are in common use today. But many aren't - they never caught on and their meaning isn't obvious.* Given a list of those words in the morning, do something creative with them, whether or not you know what they mean.
			* "Immoment" is a terrific word. It means "of no moment, inconsequential"; the stress is on the second syllable. In all English literature, the only use is in Antony and Cleopatra.
	Speaking For-Suess-ly
		John Inchingham proposed this challenge: Begin with a tale that's as common as "Smith" - A story historical, fiction or myth - Tell it re-written, but the form's not your choice. Use the style of doctor we all know as Seuss!* In other words, take a familiar tale and render as Doctor Seuss might have done.
			* Theodore Geisel originally pronounced his pseudonym as in German, to rhyme with "Joyce". For a ~~tedious~~ fascinating examination of Geisel's verse forms, see the Wikipedia article on Suess.
	The Most Unkindest Cut
		His fellow actors claimed that Shakespeare wrote so fluidly that "he never blotted a line" (that is, he never edited). Ben Jonson responded, "Would he had blotted a thousand"*. Yes, even the Bard could have used an editor once in a while. In the morning you'll select one of three longish (possibly very bad) poems. Your job is to cut it down to something approximately sonnet length (although the form chosen is up to you).
Concert
		The concert is your opportunity to perform pieces which may not "fyt" into any of the challenges.
Fyt the Fourth
	Toasted Cheese, or "Lord, What Foods These Morsels Be!"
		Feast time is traditionally when we raise our glasses on high to honor the crown and other deserving individuals. In addition to toasting our betters, tonight's topics will center on the feast menu itself and the challenge will be scattered through the meal. Forsoothliness is encouraged.
	Silken Dalliance, or Feast-Wear
		Have you ever envied Inchingham's checkered present or Amelie's fabulous hose, or wished you had chosen a barbarian persona? Maybe you never found an occasion to wear that Lizpunk outfit? Our "Come As You Aren't Party" is your chance to step out. For dinner* on Hallowe'en dress as something - or someone? - you totally are NOT**, and tell us about it.
			* Or wear it all day. Come on, you can pull it off!
			** Llyw will probably wear actual period garb
	A Wholesome Answer
		In the morning you'll draw a Shakespearean quote (one of the disturbing ones suitable to our occasion) which poses a question or a problem. Respond to it with two verses and a chorus.