One of Shakespeare’s most beloved and popular comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is coming to Pagosa this week via a cleverly adapted script and a young cast of local thespians in elementary and middle school.
The story intertwines the lives of four young lovers—Hermia. Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius— with the magical realm of fairies, ruled by King Oberon and Queen Titania. The story begins with Duke Theseus preparing for his wedding to Hippolyta, while Hermia defies her parent’s wishes to marry Demetrius and instead elopes with Lysander.
As they escape to the forest, they encounter Puck, a mischievous fairy who uses a magical flower to manipulate their affections, leading to comic misunderstandings. At the same time, a group of amateur actors, including one particularly overdramatic and foolish man, Nick Bottom, rehearse a play in the same forest. The result is a chaotic, merry mix-up!
For many of these young actors, this adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is their first experience portraying Shakespeare’s story on stage. Helena (Rayleen/7th grade), Hermia (Quinn, 7th grade), Puck (Joanna, 4th grade), Nick Bottom (Kit, 8th grade), and Titania (Lotus, 8th grade) discuss their experience with this play:
Q: What made you excited (or nervous) about being part of this play?
Joanna: I am nervous and excited because I have a big part.
Quinn: I am a theater person and I’ve always enjoyed acting on the stage.
Rayleen: I felt really nervous at first, but I really do enjoy acting and being creative.
Lotus: Seeing all the roles and different characters with their personalities, and how they interact. knowing that I was going to be apart of it all made me really excited!
Kit: I enjoy being in plays and A Midsummer Night’s Dream was the first play I ever did, so it was fun to revisit it with my new perspective from all the other plays I have been in.
Q: Which character are you playing, and what do you like most about them?
Joanna: I am Puck, and I like being a bad guy.
Quinn: I am playing Hermia and I really like the fact that I have a bigger part in the play.
Rayleen: I am playing Helena and I enjoy that I can be very dramatic with my lines.
Lotus: Titania, I love how bold yet ditsy she can be at times, she’s just so expressive and is such a fun part play!
Kit: I am playing Nick Bottom the Weaver. My favorite part is that I get to be very big and boisterous.
Q: What has been the funniest or most memorable moment during rehearsals?
Joanna: When Kit forgot two of the other actors’ names.
Quinn: I like hanging out with my friends, and all the funny quotes that come with it.
Rayleen: I like being with friends and making jokes together.
Lotus: All of us trying not to laugh when someone messes up, or says something really funny.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge in getting ready for the performance?
Joanna: Speaking so the audience can understand me.
Quinn: Memorizing all of my lines.
Rayleen: Probably memorizing my lines.
Lotus: Probably remembering all the lines because of how different yet similar the language is to how we talk today, but once I got it I was fine and really enjoyed the acting of my character.
Kit: The biggest challenge had been memorizing so that I can play the best version of Bottom that I can.
Q: Why should other students and families come to see the show?
Joanna: Because it’s hilarious!
Hermia: It will be fun for your whole family, and you’ll get a laugh out of it.
Helena: It is really fun to watch, and you will definitely laugh at the jokes, also seeing all of our hard work is really cool too!
Lotus: Everyone who is part of the play (big or small roles) all worked so, so hard to understand the language, and play their characters perfectly. It really is such a treat to see everyone work together with the finished product!
Kit: People should come to the play because I’m in it and because everyone in the play has worked very hard to put it on.
Performances will be at the Pagosa Springs High School auditorium April 23rd (Shakespeare’s birthday!) at 6:30pm, April 24th at 6:30pm, and April 26th at 2pm. Tickets will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.
The show runs approximately 75 min, with no intermission.
You can purchase tickets here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7YKHBHLCJA6V4
