If the name, Shakespeare, provokes thoughts of boredom or gives you the impression it’s impossible to read, you are not alone. Some people believe Shakespeare’s writing is outdated and lacks connection to the modern world. Even the director of this fall’s play acknowledges those concerns. But never fear, Seattle Prep’s Fall production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, has just enough twists to make Shakespeare appeal to everyone.
As director Mr. Othman says, the play is going to incorporate “a 70’s vibe with 70’s music to tell the story and to bring it to a world that is just fun and magical”. In fact, there’s a good chance that if you give it a try, you’ll fall in love with it as much as the cast.
This is the first time in many years that Prep has performed Shakespeare. Othman, says he chose this play because he “felt that this one is for the audience, and it’s especially understandable”.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is also Othman’s favorite Shakespeare comedy. Although Shakespeare’s tragedies often receive the spotlight, he also wrote witty comedies as this year’s cast has observed.
Molly O’Donnell ’24, who plays the character Hermia, promises “There’s humor that anyone can get. Shakespeare didn’t just write for the elite. And there’s something for everyone in the show.” She went on to say “it’s a really funny show. There’re people in our cast who have never done theater and never performed Shakespeare before, and at our first readthrough, they found it hilarious.”
The comedy follows the story of four young lovers, magical creatures, and a chaotic group of actors sprinkled with a healthy dose of mischief. Sophomore Oliver Martinez said, “It’s a tangle of different storylines that goes off the rails”.
With the aid of a little magic, the characters get mixed up in an unforgettable night in the woods where couples get torn apart and put back together in unexpected ways. Their experiences are so crazy that they must have been a dream.
The cast of the show has spent many long hours preparing the production and created tight-knit bonds with one another. Martinez explains “Through this process of learning Shakespeare, it just brought us all a lot closer together”. The actors were all on the same rollercoaster of memorizing lines and analyzing Shakespearian language. Just like the characters they portray, the cast members have identified with the play’s themes such as loyalty, friendship, trust, and recognizing the contributions of others. Othman acknowledges the journey the cast is on when he reflects on how “fun [it is] to see them grow through the rehearsal process”.
If you’d like to see the result of the cast and crew’s hard work, be sure to catch one of the shows. Seattle Prep’s production of A “Midsummer Night’s Dream” premieres Friday, Oct 27th in the Theater with follow-on performances taking place Oct 28th, Nov 3rd, and Nov 4th. Ticket purchases to see the show begin on October 2nd. You can purchase tickets online at http://showtix4u.com/events/seattleprep.
If you’re still on the fence, take Daniela Griffin’s ’27 advice to all students, “Go watch the show!” because it is an amazing production that “combines the three magical worlds into a story that is funny, and all makes sense in the end”.
