To some, Shakespeare can feel daunting, boring, and uninteresting, however this year’s Spring Play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is quite the opposite. With crazy plot twists, interesting characters, a range of emotions, and a lot of fun, HP Theatre’s interpretation of this classic play undoubtedly challenges the narrative that Shakespeare is boring.
Set in Athens, the play tells the chaotic story of four lovers, Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius, alongside everyday laborers in a fairy kingdom. The story’s conflict kicks off when a mischievous fairy, Puck, obeys the order of the fairy king, Oberon, to give a love potion to his wife, Queen Titania, so that she can fall in love with a donkey. Puck is also ordered to give this love potion to an Athenian man, Demetrius, whom an Athenian woman, Helena, loves. However, Puck mistakenly gives the potion to another man, Lysander, who then falls in love with Helena instead of his past beloved Hermia. The chaos ensues as Puck tries to save the couple by giving Demetrius the potion as well, furthering the chaos.
Additionally, the allure of this exciting story is not just in relation to the plot – it is also because of the costumes and the set. It has a whimsical yet simple set that is meant to emulate the terror and beauty of the forest where the majority of the play is set. The audience will be captivated by the simple yet transformative set, bringing everyone into the world of Shakespeare.
The set was created simply because, according to stage manager senior Nolan Householder, “understanding and designing around your constraints” and knowing what you “want the audience to take away” from the show influences how one designs it.
Though A Midsummer Night’s Dream is meant to be a transformative play, the actors and crew use subtle design choices rather than overcomplicated effects to do so. As Shakespeare is normally performed, the studio theater will be in a round, which means the audience will be around the stage on all sides. This will further envelop and involve the audience in this chaotic, fun, and exciting story.
Costumes that are modelled after Athenian and fairy garb will also help intrigue and excite the audience. Expect lavish robes, luxurious fabrics, and delicate wings.
The process of Shakespeare is different from any other theatrical process. Senior Andrew Boiles, who plays Oberon the fairy king, says the rehearsal process is “so much more text-based” and “way more focused” on Shakespeare’s messages in specific. He said that Shakespeare has been “harder to understand”, but it is an extremely rewarding process “once executed.”
Junior Zuzu Arnell, who plays Helena, one of the four lovers, says that it will bring the audience “joy and [make them feel] super entertained,” fully transporting them “to a fairyland that they become fully immersed in.” She also emphasizes that this show is especially important to her because “everybody is so close in theater, [and] that it really does feel like a family.”
Overall, this show will not only highlight the talents of Highland Park Theater but also the community within it. The cast and crew are confident that Midsummer will bring a new, fun, and unique experience for audiences.
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Thursday, April 16 @ 7:00 PM
Friday, April 17 @ 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 18 @ 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
HPHS Studio Theatre