All's well that ends well for Charlotte

By Andr? Hueber
Tired of being perceived as a "girly girl", Pompallier college student Charlotte Crossfield decided to overcome the stereotype by playing a man.
She auditioned for the male role of Petruchio in her school's production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and ended up winning the award for best actor in Northland at the Sheilah Winn Festival of Shakespeare in Schools.
This year's festival was held at Tikipunga High School. Students from Kerikeri High won the the best 15-minute section award with their piece from the opening scene of The Tempest and Kamo High won the best five-minute section award for their performance of Othello's murder of Desdemona. Kawiti Waetford from Kamo High, who is currently starring in CATS, also received the best performer award.
Charlotte, 15, is a year 11 student and the best actor award she received is usually given to year 12 and 13 students. She also shared the award for best interaction between two actors with fellow Pompallier College student Caitlin Murphy.
Charlotte is one of 48 students who will go to Wanganui to take part in a workshop and find out whether they have what it takes to be one of 24 lucky actors to spend two weeks training with the Young Shakespeare Company at The Globe theatre in London.
She said The Taming of the Shrew was all about flirting and courting.
"Petruchio is a leery, pervy old man so it was quite different to how people perceive me. I did lots of people watching and studied the ploys of teenage boys to prepare myself for the role. I wore my hair down because there was no point pretending to be something I'm not."
She said other students couldn't understand why she would choose a male role but she was determined to prove them wrong and make it her own.
"To give the words meaning I translated them into everyday language before translating them back again."
People who found Shakespeare boring needed to have another look, Charlotte said.
"I suggest they read it and look at the plots. They'll soon realise it's like real life. Look past the language. There's a Shakespeare play that will suit everyone."
The Sheilah Winn Shakespeare festival has been active in New Zealand for 17 years and has alumni such as Hollywood actress Melanie Lynsky.