William Shakespeare’s comedy of mischief and mayhem in the forest is named after a festival common in Northern Europe. Typically held around the summer solstice, Midsummer festivals of the past involved rituals to predict the future and find true love. It was a time of magic and mystery when plants gained healing powers. Today, Midsummer festivals are about celebrating what is yet to come. The long days and lasting sunlight are full of promise and potential change. It is a celebration of transformation.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, therefore, is a play of transformation. Every character in our story undergoes some kind of change, whether it is the obvious transformation of Nick Bottom into a Donkey-Man or the mischievous shifts of love and infatuation caused by Oberon and Puck. As a company, we have discussed the transformations for each character, and those conversations have guided our production. Whether the transformations are for the better or the worse will be left up to you to decide.
And yet, the greatest transformations of this production have occurred within our company of actors and technicians. Annandale Theatre Company has not produced a Shakespeare play in many years, and this was the first Shakespeare play for most of these students. It is common to feel intimidated by Shakespeare’s text, but once armed with text analysis tools the company brought the story to life. They transformed from skeptical, nervous students into confident, excited Shakespearean performers.
They diligently counted syllables, clapped rhythms, looked up definitions of new and familiar words, and rephrased text into their own language. Faces changed from confused, furrowed brows to wide-eyed excitement when they realized what their characters were saying. Actors and technicians learned that Shakespeare does not give modern stage directions; blocking, props, sound cues, and business are embedded in the text itself. Students took complete ownership of decoding the language and making it make sense. And when it did not make sense, they knew when to ask for help.
This play was chosen as our spring show for its broad comedy and for its relatable content. But it was also chosen as an opportunity to level up as theatre practitioners. The students on stage and behind the scenes are now confident in their ability to tackle Shakespeare, and, dare I say, excited for more.
We hope you enjoy this wild romp through the forest. I always say that theatre is the closest thing to magic I have ever experienced. While you watch the often ridiculous transformations in this story, keep in mind the magical transformation our company has undergone during this process.
Enjoy the show,
Kylie Murray
Director
Annandale Theatre Company
