THE MISSING QUEEN Calliope Theatre Company Study Guide
Welcome to The Missing Queen by Calliope Theatre Company! Our touring production of The Missing Queen, has been designed to Educate, Enlighten & Entertain! Calliope Theatre Company s The Missing Queen is an interactive performance and we encourage your students participation. We will be asking a number of your students to join us on stage. In this Study Guide, developed by professional educators and English-language teachers, you will find Pre- and Post-Performance Activities and Discussion Topics, as well as teacher and student resources. For students who are learning English we have also included key vocabulary so that your students will get the most out of our performances. This Study Guide may be reproduced and distributed to students. It can be found on our website www.calliopetheatrecompany.pt Calliope Theatre Company welcomes your opinion & suggestions on our performances and Study Guides, so that we can continue to provide teachers and students with the finest inschool, educational theatre experience. We love hearing from students and teachers. Please encourage your students to leave a comment on our Facebook Group Page or write us letters and tell us what you thought of the show! Sincerely, Zoe, Meg and Matthew Calliope Theatre Company 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS The Vocabulary and Activities that are highlighted in red are the most important in ensuring that your students understand and enjoy The Missing Queen. s If you only have a limited amount of time to prepare your students for the show, we suggest you focus on these Vocabulary Items & Activities. All of the Activities in our Study Guide may be copied and given to your students. THE MISSING QUEEN Play Synopsis....... 4 WHO S WHO Queen Elizabeth, Bess Throckmorton, Walter Raleigh..... 5 & 6 THE COURTEOUS COURTIERS......... 7 THE SPIRITED SEAFARERS......... 8 THE AGE OF DISCOVERY.... 9 & 10 THE AGE OF DISCOVERY Activity~ Write a Letter..11 VOCABULARY..... 12 & 13 VOCABULARY ACTIVITIES......... 14-16 THEATRE Discuss & Draw Activity.. 17. RIDDLE ME THIS!....... 18 FUN RIDDLES......... 19 ABOUT THE ARTISTS 20 3
Calliope Theatre Company s Play ~ Synopsis Parties! Dancing! Palace Intrigue! Life in the Court of Queen Elizabeth I is sooooooo dull! And Elizabeth is bored very, very bored. First, she tries her hand at a bit of match-making between her beloved friends, Lady Bess Throckmorton and Sir Walter Raleigh, but they hate each other on sight. So Elizabeth decides it s time for a vacation and a bit of fun. It s up to Bess and Walter to find England s Missing Queen. In their hilarious adventures, they meet unusual creatures, solve the riddles and learn that working together (with the help of your students!) is the only way to find their wayward Queen! Novus Orbis, a map of the New World created in 1540. The upper land mass was what they thought North America looked like and the lower portion was South America. In 1540, much of the New World was yet to be explored! 4
Who s Who in ThE MissinG QUEEn? Although we have taken great liberty with their characterisations, many of the people in our play actually existed. QUEEN ELIZABETH I A Different Kind of Queen Elizabeth was a different kind of Queen: quick-witted and clever. But she could be as ruthless and calculating as any king. Her reign is often called the Golden Age. Early Years What influences shaped the young Elizabeth? Her mother was the illfated Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII. Henry desperately wanted a son and when Elizabeth was born he was so disappointed that he did not even attend her christening. When Elizabeth was two years old her mother, Anne, was beheaded. Elizabeth was brought up in the care of governesses and spent her days studying Greek and Latin. Elizabeth was also taught the art of public speaking, unheard of for women at the time. Elizabeth is Crowned Elizabeth was aged twenty-five when she became the Queen of England. Her Coronation was spectacular and as the crowds rushed forward to meet her, she would stop to listen to ordinary people on the street. She knew that she needed their support but she also felt a deep sense of responsibility for their welfare. The people were thrilled with their new Queen. Elizabeth was an instant hit! Marriage The welfare of her people was the most important thing to Elizabeth and she once remarked, I am already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England. For personal and political reasons, Elizabeth simply did not wish to be married. I have reigned with your love. Elizabeth's greatest achievement lay in the relationship she had created with her people. She was ahead of her time in her grasp of public relations and she was rewarded with the devotion of her people. 5
Who s Who in THE MISSING QUEEN? Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh was an English writer and explorer. He is best known for establishing one of the first colonies in North America. Sir Walter Raleigh also made two trips to South America in search of El Dorado, the legendary city of gold. Instead of gold, he found tobacco and potatoes. A favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, Raleigh was also known for his chivalry. On one occasion he is said to have put his cloak on the ground so that Queen Elizabeth did not have to step in a muddy puddle. Raleigh was well-educated, well-read and well-travelled and it is said that he had a wonderful sense of humour. Unlike our story, the Queen became very upset when Raleigh married one of her ladies in waiting, Bess Throckmorton. However, she forgave him when one of his expeditions to Spain resulted in the capture of a large treasure. Elizabeth Bess Throckmorton Elizabeth, known also as "Bess", was a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth I. She secretly married Sir Walter Raleigh and the Queen was furious with both of them for many years. Bess is said to have been intelligent, passionate, and courageous. Due to Raleigh's frequent absences on explorations and expeditions, Bess had to shoulder an unusual level of responsibility for a woman of her time. In spite of this, Bess and Walter remained devoted to each other. 6
Your students will be invited to join us on stage. These are some of the characters they will be portraying. The Courteous Courtiers Leonardo da Vinci Born in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, scientist, and inventor during the Italian Renaissance. He is considered by many to be one of the most talented and intelligent people of all time. The term Renaissance Man (someone who does many things very well) was coined from Leonardo's many talents. He most famous for his paintings, the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa as well as his engineering notebooks. Marie Antoinette Queen of France Marie Antoinette, the daughter of Emperor of Austria, married the Prince of France at the age of 15. This wasn't the romantic marriage that you see in the movies. This marriage was meant to form an alliance between the two countries. In 1774, her husband was crowned King Louis XVI. Marie loved being Queen and she spent lavishly on parties, dresses, jewellery, and fancy hairdos. However, the average person in France was very poor and didn't have enough money to buy bread to feed their families. The people began to blame Marie, the Austrian Princess, for their problems. During the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette was brought to trial, found guilty and was executed by guillotine in 1793. Sir Lancelot The fictional character, Sir Lancelot du Lac (meaning Lancelot of the Lake) is one of the Knights of the Round Table in the King Arthur legends. Scheherazade Scheherazade, is a fictional character in One Thousand and One Nights. Condemned to die, she began telling stories to the king and he would spare her life to finish the story the next night. The next night, she finished the story and began an even more exciting tale, which she again stopped halfway through at dawn. Again, the king spared her life for one more day so she could finish the story. At the end of 1,001 nights and 1,000 stories, the king fell in love with her, and made her his queen. 7
Your students will be invited to join us on stage. These are some of the characters they will be portraying. The Spirited Seafarers Prince Henry the Navigator Prince Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese explorer, soldier and prince. The Age of Exploration began in the nation of Portugal under the leadership of Henry the Navigator. Although Prince Henry rarely participated in explorations himself, he sent out many ships to map and explore the west coast of Africa. Prince Henry explorations brought great wealth to Portugal. In 1419, it is said that Prince Henry started the first school of navigation at Sagres, Portugal. The goal of the school was to train people in navigation, map-making and science to prepare them to sail around the west coast of Africa. Anne Bonny The Pirate Anne Bonny was a legendary female pirate who was part of Calico Jack s crew. Anne Bonny, together with another female pirate called Mary Read, were active participants in Jack s crew, fighting right alongside the men and earning their respect Born in Ireland, Anne Bonny had red hair and a legendary fiery temper. It is hard to separate the legend from the facts of Anne Bonny. The only thing we can be sure of is that she was a strong, independent woman, who was way ahead of her time. The 18th century was still a time when women did not have many rights. But in this man's world Anne Bonny became an equal crewmember and a respected pirate. Sinbad the Sailor Sinbad the Sailor is a fictional hero in the Eastern folk tales of One Thousand and One Nights. During his voyages throughout the seas east of Africa and south of Asia, he has fantastic adventures going to magical places and meeting supernatural monsters. Ariel Ariel is a fictional character and the title character of the famous Disney animated film, The Little Mermaid. 8
Age of Discovery Also known as the Age of Exploration, this was a period in history starting in the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century when Europeans engaged in explorations of the world. So why did Europeans explore the world during the Age of Exploration? Many different European countries paid for explorations for many different reasons. Some of the reasons that they explored were: To find a sea route to the spices of Asia To find gold, silver, and precious stones To expand their knowledge of the world To control a larger empire To expand Christianity Sea Route in Search of Spices In the 1400s, there was no refrigeration. To prevent meat from spoiling, people put their meat in salt to preserve and dry it. They also used a lot of spices like pepper to cover up the taste of the salted or spoiled meat. But these spices did not grow in Europe. They were only found in Asian countries like China, Japan, and India (these countries were known together as "The Indies"). But, spices had to be brought across thousands of miles of dangerous mountains and deserts. Since it was so difficult to get spices from Asia to Europe, spices were very expensive. If a country could find a way to get these valuable spices to Europe, the rulers would be very rich. 9
Age of Discovery Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones European rulers fought many wars. These wars were very expensive, so they needed to find gold, silver, and precious stones to pay for them. They believed that the Indies and the New World were rich with gold, silver, and precious stones, so they decided to find them and bring them back. Expand Knowledge In the late 1400s, Europeans did not know much about the world. Most of them had never been outside of Europe. The European map of the world included only Europe, Asia, and the top of Africa. They thought there was only one ocean, the Ocean Sea. Although many people thought the world was flat, educated Europeans knew that it was round. The problem was they had no idea how large the world really was. Larger Empires Many European rulers wanted to claim as much land as they could. They wanted to take all of the natural resources from the new lands and use the people that lived there as slaves to do their work. Expand Christianity In the late 1400s, there was only one religion in Europe, Christianity. The European rulers were very religious. They wanted to convert everyone to Christianity. 10
Age of Discovery ACTIVITY Write a Letter Home! The once blue sky has turned a dirty shade of grey. The wind begins to howl. The ocean is endless. My small wooden ship groans as large waves break over its bow. I am sailing toward a distant unknown land. Ask students to pretend that they are a famous Explorer, writing a letter to their friends and family back at home. Ask students to think about some of these questions as they write their letter. Where did they go? Who did they meet? What did they find? How did they feel? What did they like? What did they not like? Below is a list of just a few of the famous Explorers from the Age of Discovery. Ask students to choose one of these Explorers and learn about them before they write their letter. Bartolomeu Dias Gil Eanes John Cabot Vasco Da Gama Hernando Cortez Francisco Pizarro Sir Francis Drake Amerigo Vespucci Juan Ponce de Leon Vasco de Balboa Ferdinand Magellan Christopher Columbus 11
Vocabulary The following is a list of some of the vocabulary from the play which teachers may choose to pre-teach before the performance. NOUNS The Queen of England Lady in Waiting Wife Husband Marriage Friend Foe (Enemy) Hero Gentleman Matchmaker Liar Explorer Seafarer Courtier Jester Fool Old Maid Crone Kidnapper Chicken A present (a gift) Gold Silver Jewel Potato Dessert Chocolate Coffee Beans A drink A snack Food Crisps (Potato chips) England Scotland Wales Nation Globe World New World Ocean Party Gossip Adventure Hobby Past-time Idea Tradition Manners Good Manners Holiday Competition Contest A team Goody Two Shoes Joke Knock-Knock Joke Castle Palace Tunnel Passage Statue Gargoyle Guard Toll Library Door Note Riddle Clue A rule Truth A Lie Patience Logic Book DID YOU KNOW?... A Gargoyle is a grotesque statue, carved out of stone. Gargoyles are usually found on old buildings and churches. A long time ago people believed that they scared away evil spirits, but Gargoyles actually were important because they were water spouts that got the water away from a building when it rained. The rainwater would run off of the roof and then through the gargoyle s mouth. ADJECTIVES Boring Dull Exciting Unexciting Funny Silly Goofy Ditsy Old Ancient Young Free Single Happy Nice Insolent Ignorant Rude Irritating Polite Prissy Lucky Honest Respectful Favourite Secret Difficult Dangerous Starving Hungry Cold Dark Damp Cool Calm Confusing Spirited Vibrant Logical Interesting Courteous 12
Vocabulary The following is a list of some of the vocabulary from the play which teachers may choose to pre-teach before the performance. VERBS To travel To explore To sail To circumnavigate To leave To return To hold To forget To search To look To come To bring To give To solve To tease To joke To practice To marry To find To learn To win To lose To stare To say To pay To worry To kidnap To dance To interrupt To eat To laugh To read To practice To wait To kidnap To spin PHRASAL VERBS To keep waiting To be kind To be well-behaved To make sense To be patient To make a friend To use patience To calm down To go on a date (to date someone) PHRASES and EXPRESSIONS Mind your manners! Good Manners are never out of fashion! Good manners cost nothing! If you can t say something nice, don t say anything at all. This is a waste of time! This is a fool s errand! You re past-your-sell date! Laughter is worth its weight in gold. I ve got news for you. Who cares? You re a regular Albert Einstein! That makes no sense! That s the way the cookie crumbles! Searching high and low Fair and Square 13
ACTIVITY # 1 Vocabulary-Adjectives - Synonyms Ask students to match the adjectives in column A with their synonyms in column B. Example: hot - sunny A 1.) Pretty a) Silly 2.) Old b) Crazy 3.) Funny c) Insolent 4.) Clever d) Beautiful 5.) Amazing e) Bad 6.) Rude f) Difficult 7.) Insane g) Ancient 8.) Awful h) Intelligent 9.) Hard i) Wonderful ACTIVITY # 2 Vocabulary-Adjectives-Opposites B Ask students to match the adjectives in column A with their opposites in column B. Example: pretty - ugly A B 1.) Pretty a) Young 2.) Mature b) Mean 3.) Terrible c) Well-behaved 5.) Rude e) Wonderful 6.) Vain f) Ignorant 7.) Hard g) Humble 8.) Wise h) Ugly 9.) Nice i) Easy 14
ACTIVITY Vocabulary NOUNS Ask students to select the nouns from the list and put them into the correct related categories below. (The maximum number of words per category is indicated in brackets.) NOUNS Queen Jester The New World Potato Gold England Friend Liar Castle A present (a gift) Coffee Beans Tunnel Book Hero Silver Matchmaker Jewel Gargoyle Explorer Seafarer Courtier Guard Foe (Enemy) Chocolate People (12) Places (4) Objects (8) 15
ACTIVITY Word Soup Ask students to find the words listed below in the puzzle. QUEEN ADVENTURE GARGOYLE CHOCOLATE RIDDLE MANNERS BESS DA VINCI WALTER RALEIGH PRINCE HENRY EXPLORER N K E L I O F R A G D W M Q R Z S M G C U J R E A L A V A E G S A P N H J K L R D L Z L X Y W N M I R P W N G G T W L P F Z N E V L U E R O I E C O L C G E P A W N R L Y N R B R O E A R A D E W U B L X R W T R T A S C E D O T D E K A S X E A W T U E P I N N L A L X Z R L J Q K A M G E U L I E E M W O N V T D R S V X L M I L M P C V R H R G S D U I L G D F I O A J W N C E A L D D H D U W H Z N E O Z B G P V Y X I I V C Q Q Y R N E H E C N I R P G 16
THEATRE ~ Theatre features live on-stage actors. They have spent many weeks rehearsing for the performance. ~ The audience is a very important part of the performance. The success of the play often depends on the audience and their enthusiasm and participation. ~ It is easy to identify with live actors. You can see how they use their bodies and voices to convey different emotions. ~ Actors wear clothing and make-up to help create the characters they play. ~ There is much more to most live performances than actors. Special scenery, effects, lighting, music, costumes, and of course, the audience add to the total experience. ACTIVITY Discuss & DRAW! After reading the above, ask students to discuss some of the theatre questions below. 1.) What was your favourite part of the play? Who was your favourite character and why? 2.) What is the difference between TV and a live play? Which do you like better and why? 3.) Draw a picture of a favourite scene or character. 4.) Design a programme cover for the play using the title, and an illustration inspired by the play. 5.) In 25 words or less, describe the plot of the play. 17
RIDDLE ME THIS! In our play, Bess and Walter Raleigh must learn to work together to solve a number of riddles. A riddle is a misleading or puzzling question. Have students work together in teams to solve our riddle! There are two doors. One door leads to the Queen. The other door leads to certain Death! At each door there is a guard. One of the guards always tells the truth. The other guard always lies. You may ask one question to only one guard to solve the riddle! Remember that you do not know which guard you're asking -- the truth-teller or the liar -- and this single question determines whether you find the Queen or die! What is the one question you will ask? If students cannot solve the riddle here are two videos that might help: http://youtu.be/aoe-8tqpziq https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_858646&feat ure=iv&src_vid=aoe-8tqpziq&v=s4htbvc_ssu 18
Here are some other fun riddles to ask your students! Q. What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs? A. A clock! Q. What is the easiest way to double your money? A. Put it in front of the mirror of course! Q. What has a thumb and four fingers but is not alive? A. A glove. Q. What has to be broken before you can use it? A. An egg. Q. What has a neck but no head? A. A bottle. Q. What gets wetter as it dries? A. A towel. Q. What goes up and doesn t come back down? A. Your age. Q. What belongs to you but is used more by others? A. Your name. Q. Everyone has it and no one can lose it, what is it? A. A shadow. Q. It's been around for millions of years, but it's no more than a month old. What is it? A. The moon. 19
About the artists Zoe Kaye (Bess Throckmorton, Red Guard) originally from Herefordshire, U.K., received a Distinction Certificate in her Performing Arts exam for L.A.M.D.A and studied Children s Theatre at Herefordshire College of Art and Design where she performed in the Herefordshire Performing Arts Festival. After performing for over 3 years with Avalon Theatre Company, Zoe is proud to be a co-founder of Calliope Theatre Company. Meg Thurin (Queen Elizabeth I, Gary Gargoyle, Blue Guard), originally from the United States, Meg graduated from John Cabot University with a Bachelor of Arts and received her postgraduate degree from the Istituto Arte Artiginato e Restauro, Rome, Italy. Since moving to Portugal in 2009, Meg has worked with Avalon Theatre Company, participated in various voice-over projects and has performed in a TV sitcom pilot filmed in Lisbon. Most recently, Meg became the featured voice for iclio's - JiTT Travel app guides for many major cities in Europe. Meg is a co-founder of Calliope Theatre Company and looks forward to seeing the teachers and students that she met during her 5 years with Avalon Theatre Company. Matthew Lloyd (Sir Walter Raleigh) Originally from England, Matthew worked with The Ferndown Drama Group, Huntington Drama Group, Chesil Theatre and the Royal Navy Theatre Association. He has acted in a variety of fulllength works including pantomimes and dramatic plays such as Wind in the Willows (Toad) and Pygmalion. Matthew has directed such works as The Anniversary and Steel Magnolias and has served as Stage Manager for a variety of theatre companies. Matthew has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. After his 17 years in the British Royal Navy (including time spent with NATO, Portugal), Matthew moved permanently to Cascais. Matthew is a co-founder of Calliope Theatre Company. 20