Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by Sylvia Chun
Columnist

On February 5, 6, 12, and 13, students from various Stamford public schools performed William Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is one of the few Shakespearean comedies and for this reason alone, this play was a must see. Since the play was performed in its original Shakespearean language, the play was slightly hard to understand. The skills demonstrated in the actors’ performances, though, still made for an excellent show.

The story follows Theseus, the Duke of Athens, as he prepares for his marriage to Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, as well as the four lovers Demetrius, Lysander, Helena, and Hermia. Despite the fact that they are forbidden to love one another, Lysander and Hermia escape into the forest, followed by Demetrius and Helena. When they enter the forest, they find themselves in the world of the fairies, ruled by Oberon and Titania. All of the characters’ love lives are turned upside down when Puck, Oberon’s servant, accidentally gives a love potion to one of the lovers. Confusion, drama, and chaos surround the lives of the characters in Shakespeare’s classic comedy.

The actors did not forget a line or miss a step—everything was in sync. They captured the audience’s attention by emphasizing the humor of Midsummer; the audience was in constant laughter. The set design and costumes were intriguing as some glittered against the light and other costumes involved the head of a horse. Scenes were unexpected and it was always exciting to see what would occur next, which was unpredictable. After each scene, the story progressed but the actors never lost their energy to continue on with the show.

Despite the conflict surrounding Andy Knapp, Midsummer’s former director, the actors were able to put the commotion aside. They were fully committed to their roles and only thought about putting on a great show.

“I thought the show was amazing and turned out really well,” said senior Marissa Friedman. “I loved how all of the students from elementary through high school were involved. Despite all of the drama that occurred outside of the production, the actors still put on a great show,” she said.

Midsummer was a great selection for an all-school musical because of its soft nature and storyline. The set, costumes, and acting were elegant and vibrant and captured the hearts of the audience. In my opinion, it was evident that the actors and tech crew took the time and effort to make sure that this would be the best show that they possibly could have produced.

—Photo by Alana Kasindorf