Norwood Drama is putting on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” this weekend and it is sure to be an untraditional version of the classic romantic comedy.
John Quinn, Drama teacher and director of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is showing off his impressive directing talents with this adapted play that contains new features and surprising details.
His stern, but affectionate approach to the cast allows for raw emotions to be displayed which are promised to “affect the audience and result in a long-lasting impact,” said freshman actor Danielle Frey.
This show has been in the works since June when casting started and rehearsals have continued from September until the day before opening. According to the cast, this experience has been extremely amusing and enjoyable, but they have been able to stay focused and make progress in both their skills and their performance.
“Criticism isn’t really taken personally. We learn from the mistakes that we make and move past them” freshman Hannah Nygyen, who is doing the lighting for the show, said.
In the end, Nygyen hopes that audience members “just enjoy it [the play].”
This cast has shown their tight-knit connection with one another that has grown inside the rehearsal room and outside. They have been able to work together and produce pieces for the show like their setpieces. Every inch of their sets was either painted or built by a part of the student-led production team.
“It’s themed Avatar jungle vibes with modernized ideas. You see dead trees, a lot of different platforms, heights, and materials” sophomore Bridget Hultgren shared about Titania’s Bower, which is first seen in Act 2.
She also named those in the cast like Jackie Varney and Asher Meears who both had a substantial role in the painting and added elements to this specific set.
Along with the work that has gone on behind the scenes, the actors have had one goal in mind the closer they get to opening night: the message of this storyline that they will present to the audience.
With this older plot and theme, the actors and directors have been able to use their talents and creativity to further their performance and character.
“One of the storylines of the show is that a girl is in love with a boy but her father wants her to marry someone else, so I really just want the audience to take away that people have the right to love who they want to” senior actor, Lily Swederskas.
Director and Drama teacher John Quinn jokingly brought up the fact that this play also brings out many teenage boy’s traits including being fickle when it comes to love. The play also shows how fast teenagers fall in and out of love like with the love “square” with Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius who are the main characters in this show.
The cast will be performing on November 21,22 and 23 at 7 pm and November 24 at 2 pm at Norwood High School. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors.
