William Shakespeare is known for his tragedies…and comedies. Lewiston High School’s own drama club, Centre Stage Ensemble, has taken on the challenge of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for their fall production. The show dates are on December 8th, 9th, and 10th at 7:30 PM at Lewiston Middle School on Central Avenue. The tickets, which can be bought at the door, are $8 for adults and $5 for students/senior citizens.
Midsummer is one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Magic, love, and bumbling characters mix to create humorous chaos. Here’s a little of the story…
The plays starts off with the king of Athens, Theseus (Shawn Sabourin), pining for the date of his wedding with his fiancée, Hippolyta (Ashley Couture). He sends off Philostrate, an advisor, to prepare for the day to come. An angry citizen, Egeus (Ben Lowe) bursts into the room, followed by his daughter, Hermia (Jenna Barry) and two men, Lysander (Jeremy Gervais), and Demetrius (Chris Hodgkin). The problem is Hermia does not want to marry Demetrius, the man Egeus picked out for her to marry, because she loves Lysander. Because of Athenian law, Theseus tells Hermia to either marry Lysander, become a nun, or be put to death. When everyone is gone, Hermia and Lysander make plans to leave Athens through the woods and elope. While they are planning Hermia’s best friend, Helena (Rachel Spilecki), comes in. Helena is in love with Demetrius, Hermia’s castoff. After hearing of their plan, Helena decides to tell Demetrius of the young couple’s plans, so she can spend some time with Demetrius.
Meanwhile, a group of artisans meet to set up a rehearsal for their play, of which they will perform for the king and new queen at the royal couple’s wedding. If the “actors” do well, they will be set for life. If they do badly, their lives will be at stake. Peter Quince the carpenter (Jessica Fortin) is the director of the “mechanicals” (group of actors). Francis Flute the bellows-mender (Max Stevenson) is the teenage boy always stuck with playing the girl part. Tom Snout the tinker (Andrew Leeman), the actors have decided, will play “Wall” (literally). Robin Starveling (Amanda Martin) the tailor plays the moon, and Snug the joiner (Augden Willette) plays the lion who does not want to frighten the ladies with his roar. And last, but not least of the bumbling group, is Nick Bottom (Tucker Adams). He is the diva of all divas. Later on, while the actors are rehearsing, he gets transformed into what he really is, an ass.
In the woods that night, the queen of the faeries, Titania (Elisabeth Messer), and the king of the faeries, Oberon (Brandon Dubois), are in a tiff over a changeling boy who was given to Titania by one of her human maidservants. Oberon covets the child and will do anything to get it. He sends his mischievous companion, Puck (Ashley McWhorter), to get a love serum, placed in a flower, so his queen will fall in love with a beast, and, in her trance, will give up the changeling boy. Later on, Titania’s faerie attendants, Peaseblossom (Crystal Packard), Cobweb (Jessica Roy), Moth (Melissa Lecroix), and Mustardseed (Ashley Doyon), have to take care of her new *ahem* “love.”
In the dark of the night, the worlds clash and hilarity ensues. Every possible mix-up and situation occurs, and Shakespeare’s words come alive.
Richard Martin took on the immense challenge of directing Midsummer, with help from the language director, Stan Spilecki. Stan Spilecki, incidentally, also designed the set. Doreen Traynor is the costumer, and Susan Jalbert is the props woman. The producers of Midsummer are Marissa Jalbert and Rachel Spilecki. We hope to see you at the show!
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