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I Was Cleopatra - by  Dennis Abrams (Hardcover) - 1 of 1

I Was Cleopatra - by Dennis Abrams (Hardcover)

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About this item

Highlights

  • The provocative fictional memoir of a boy actor in Shakespearian London.In Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed to appear on stage, and so female parts were played by boy actors.
  • 12 Years
  • 7.5" x 5.2" Hardcover
  • 192 Pages
  • Young Adult Fiction, Performing Arts

Description



About the Book



In this provocative fictional memoir of a boy actor in Shakespeare's London, Abrams invites readers to experience gender fluidity and sexuality through the fictional recollections of a fascinating historical figure as he reflects on his life in this "farewell" to his theatrical past.



Book Synopsis



The provocative fictional memoir of a boy actor in Shakespearian London.

In Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed to appear on stage, and so female parts were played by boy actors. In I Was Cleopatra, readers meet John Rice -- perhaps the most beautiful and acclaimed boy actor of them all. It is believed by many that John Rice originated the roles of Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra and Cordelia, and this fictional memoir explores his life both on and off the stage. With graceful prose and an encyclopedic knowledge of the period, Dennis Abrams invites readers to experience gender fluidity and sexuality through the fictional recollections of a fascinating historical figure as he reflects on his life in this "farewell" to his theatrical past.

The story follows John from the age of thirteen, when he leaves his family in Reading to join the King's Men theater troupe in London as an apprentice boy actor. Over the course of the next few years, John eagerly hones the acting skills necessary to portray female roles. He memorizes lines, reads all the plays he can get his hands on, and works on imitating female gestures and mannerisms. He becomes a friend, and eventually a lover, of Alexander, a boy actor who is getting too old to play female roles. And he works closely with Shakespeare himself, who coaches him through the roles of Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra, among others.

But around the time he turns sixteen, John starts to worry about inevitably becoming too old to convincingly portray women onstage, which leads to some unsettling choices.

Key Text Features
literary references
author's note

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.



Review Quotes




". . . a poignant coming-of-age tale that explores the complexities of youth and gender performance. . . . A thought-provoking work that will encourage readers to learn more about the world of Elizabethan theater." -- Kirkus Reviews



"Abrams's discussion of gender fluidity and sexuality are among the novel's most intriguing aspects." -- Publisher's Weekly



"An impeccably researched and precisely told foray into the days of Shakespeare." -- Booklist



"In this fictional memoir of John Rice, an Elizabethan child actor, readers are given a glimpse into what life was like as he honed his stagecraft." -- Literacy Daily


Dimensions (Overall): 7.5 Inches (H) x 5.2 Inches (W) x .9 Inches (D)
Weight: .6 Pounds
Suggested Age: 12 Years
Number of Pages: 192
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Sub-Genre: Performing Arts
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Format: Hardcover
Author: Dennis Abrams
Language: English
Street Date: April 1, 2018
TCIN: 85113589
UPC: 9781773060224
Item Number (DPCI): 247-52-1016
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 0.9 inches length x 5.2 inches width x 7.5 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.6 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO

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