Bronx Science Pupils Vividly portray Shakespeare in the 2025 English Speaking Union's Shakespeare Recital Contest
On a chilly January day in 2025, the Bronx Science English Department hosted the annual Shakespeare Competition, a coveted event where students from all grades battled it out for the chance to strut their stuff at the City Semi-Finals hosted by The English Speaking Union.
A total of fourteen gifted students from all four grades at Bronx Science took part in this wintery contest, showcasing their talents by performing pieces such as Lady Macbeth's iconic monologues and revered 157 sonnets. When the dust settled, it was none other than Lucienne Beaubien-Paulson '26 who clinched the 2025 title, with Harper Quill '28 claiming the runner-up spot.
The road to glory was a tough one for each participant. They had to commit every word of their monologue and sonnet to memory, and in addition, delve deep into understanding the context and meaning behind their performance.
To make things less daunting, some competitors, like runner-up Harper Quill, translated Shakespeare's language into modern English to better comprehend their pieces. But that's just one obstacle; translating the Bard's words is a grueling task. As Quill put it, "Shakespeare's complex language and his depth make this unlike any acting experience I've ever had."
Performance preparation wasn't limited to memorization and comprehension. It required hours of practice to refine gestures, vocal projection, and emotional expression. Some students collaborated with drama teachers or coaches, while others filmed themselves rehearsing to analyze their movements and delivery. They also sought feedback from peers and teachers, helping them hone their interpretations and sharpen their storytelling skills.
Evan Norat '26 brought the house down with his riotous take on the porter's drunken monologue from Macbeth. He followed a polished process that ensured he completely immersed himself in the role. "My process for rehearsing involved remembering my lines, planning expressive body language, and refining my delivery based on feedback from my English teachers," said Norat.
Expressing the deeper significance of Shakespeare's words is key to a win-worthy performance, and that's something Olive Forman-Sarno '26 fully grasped. "When I perform Shakespeare, I aim to bring it to life. I want to speak deliberately, making it feel as if I'm thinking in the moment," Forman-Sarno shared.
Come competition day, participants took turns to perform their monologue and sonnet in front of judges from Bronx Science's English Department faculty. The trio of judges, consisting of Mr. Alexander Thorp, Mr. Kevin Chillemi, and Mr. Nicholas McConnell, evaluated performances based on creative delivery, understanding of the context, and interpretation of Shakespeare's words.
One of the competition's most cherished traditions is the opportunity for everyone to watch others perform, as it encourages learning and inspiration. For Forman-Sarno, this aspects makes the experience truly rewarding. "It was awe-inspiring to witness my fellow competitors bringing their characters to life. It was a valuable learning experience for me, as I got to analyze and take mental notes for future performances," she said.
Anna Koontz felt similarly, expressing that the excitement of performing, as well as witnessing others' performances, makes the whole experience incredibly inspiring. It was her second time participating, and both times left lasting impressions on her.
Lucienne Beaubien-Paulson '26 walked away with the first-place prize for her performance of Sonnet 46, followed by her runner-up title from the year before. The Sonnet is a romantic-comedy piece that showcases the heart's struggle between love and reason, and Lady Anne's monologue from King Richard III. In her performance, Beaubien-Paulsen managed to balance the light-hearted nature of her sonnet with the intense emotion of Lady Anne after her family tragically meets a violent end at the hands of King Richard.
Despite her acting experience, Beaubien-Paulson acknowledged the new challenges that came with performing Shakespeare. "I've never delved so deeply into analyzing my lines," she admitted. "The language was a challenge to understand."
Runner-up Harper Quill '28 chose Sonnet 50, a reflective piece on the melancholy nature of growing up and letting go of the past. She accompanied this with a monologue by Rosalind from As You Like It, a Shakespeare classic where wit and romance coexist amid the disputes of rival brothers. Unlike Beaubien-Paulson, Quill had some experience with Shakespeare, which she found helpful throughout the process. However, there was still much to learn from her fellow competitors, and Quill - only a sophomore – was set on taking in their performances to further master the art of Shakespearean acting.
Beaubien-Paulson went on to compete in the New York City Semi-Finals Competition at the English Speaking Union's headquarters in midtown Manhattan. Although she put on a stellar performance, the judges ultimately selected students from other schools to advance to the NYC Finals Competition.
Another Bronx Science student, Ruby Lahana '27, found success in the English Speaking Union's other annual competition – the I AM Shakespeare National Sonnet Writing Competition. Lahana won first place with her sonnet 'Melancholic Notes,' which is reproduced below with her permission:
If we fly on just one more beat of wingMaybe hands once clasped so tight will twineBrok'n hearts mending as the warblers singWoven with such force of the divine.Soaring up and up as world grows coldBlood still beating melancholic notesBut through the chill young always follows oldForever to thy mother, chick devotes.Though wind shalt pull the flyers sep'rate waysAnd time ticks by with ever faster paceThough I grow tall, you shorter, nothing staysFeathers bloom as old ones they replace.The two shalt find their bearings on the shoreHands eternally entwined once more.
This sonnet is dedicated to Lahana's mother, emphasizing the emotions evoked by the 'minutiae of everyday life,' such as folding laundry or checking Lahana's phone and keys before leaving the house. For Lahana, Shakespeare's ability to convey intense emotions through his writing inspired her to express her own feelings in such poetic verse.
"Shakespeare's style allows for so much prolific production within the 10-syllable iambic pentameter," said Lahana. "There is a reason this structure remains a literary staple; it offers just enough space to tell a story while requiring you to give every word weight and depth."
Lahana attributes her deep understanding of Shakespearean themes to the integration of his works in the Bronx Science curriculum. She draws parallels between the themes of mercy and justice in The Merchant of Venice and the values she holds dear. "As such, I question Portia's view that we must not only accept mercy, but also learn to redefine justice as a balance between its contrary aspects," said Lahana.
"His style allows for so much prolific production within the 10-syllable iambic pentameter," remarks Ruby Lahana '27. "There is a reason this structure remains a literary staple; it offers just enough space to tell a story while requiring you to give every word weight and depth."
In the realm of education-and-self-development, Lucienne Beaubien-Paulson '26 utilized psychological strategies to prepare for the Shakespeare Competition, delving deep into the culture and lifestyle portrayed in Shakespeare's plays to provide a compelling performance. Harper Quill '28, on the other hand, applied modernization techniques to understanding Shakespeare's complex language, which not only benefited her performance in sports-like competition but also sparked interest in the world of lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and sports for her.
