Staring into the faces of professional theater educators and critics, senior Jack Duff entered the stage with one goal in mind: to bring Shakespeare’s words and characters to life.

    “From you have I been absent in the spring,” said Duff, reciting Sonnet 98 with all the passion and fervor that Shakespeare himself would expect from an actor. Little did he know that he would eventually qualify for the National Finals in New York City.

    The Shakespeare Monologue Competition is an event run by the English Speaking Union of the United States. Motivated by both the importance and history of the English language, this group aims to help people appreciate classical theater and develop their skills as actors and performers.

    According to Duff, there are several rounds of competition. Starting with the school level competition, one must memorize and deliver a monologue from one of Shakespeare’s plays. The judges then decide on one contestant to advance to the State Semifinals at Babson College.

    Chosen to represent SHS at the State Semifinals, Duff performed a piece from Pericles, Prince of Tyre in front of professional judges. Impressed by his ability to deliver complex lines and take on his character’s persona, the judges chose Duff, amongst nine others, to attend the State Finals at Emerson College.

    To provide some background on the character that Duff has chosen to encompass and become, Pericles was a father who mourned the disappearance, and possible death, of his beloved daughter Marina. “The hardest thing for me was that I’m not a father, so I had to search for a part of me that could really connect with Pericles in this scene,” said Jack. No matter how flawless a performer delivers their monologue, they must breathe life and emotion into their character.

    One might believe that memorizing lines from Shakespeare, staying in character, and performing with raw passion and fervor, would be nearly impossible. Yet, with enough practice and support from fellow actors, Duff was able to advance far in the competition and learn valuable skills as an actor.

    “He picks up on nuances in the language very easily and he is so willing to put the work into his performances,” said Amy Lemerande, one of Scituate High School’s new drama directors. Although some people cringe at the thought of Shakespeare, Duff embraces the challenge of dissecting Shakespeare’s words and making them relevant to modern day society.

   Duff eventually advanced to the National Finals in New York City as the Massachusetts State victor. Being offered an all-expense paid trip to NYC May 5-7 as well as a full scholarship to the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s BARDs summer program at Babson College, Duff is looking forward to participating in the national competition.

    “I’ll have the opportunity to hang out and take classes with some of the coolest people in the country,” said Duff, noting that Shakespeare enthusiasts are “some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet.”

    To prepare for the competition, Duff is working with both of his drama directors, Tyrus and Amy Lemerande, to choose and perfect a piece to perform. According to Ms. Lemerande, they mentored Duff in “dissecting Shakespeare’s language” and taught him “how to find the clues that lie in the text.” Not only does a performer have to know what they are saying, but they must convey their monologue in a way that makes sense to the audience.

    Expressing his appreciation for all the help he has received over the last few months, both from his drama directors as well as his peers, Duff credits much of his success to these people. Not only does he appreciate all of their support, but Duff gains much of his inspiration from them, especially after the drama club’s recent and powerful performance of The Tragedy of King Leontes.

    Whether it’s reciting lines, singing with fellow cast members, joking around backstage, or preparing for the final night of production, Duff has grown to love drama club and all the people in it. Thanks to them, he has grown significantly as an actor, developed lasting friendships, and inspired to continue drama in college.

    “He is a very talented young man and he could very well take home the National title,” said Ms. Lemerande, beaming with pride.

    With the drama club and the rest of SHS cheering him on, Duff has yet to prove to the national judges that has what it takes to make Shakespeare proud.