BROOKINGS Motifs of love and chaos will be interpreted on-stage by Brookings students when A Midsummer Nights Dream is performed April 10-12 at Brookings High School, 530 Elm Ave.
Shakespeares themes even though he wrote his plays so long ago are still relevant, Kayla Mette, high school theatre director, said. One of the lines from this play thats still fun to talk about is that love and reason keep little company together these days. Its about what is real, what isnt; being awake, being in dreams; and what is falling in love and the chaos surrounding it.
She said those are all concepts familiar to high schoolers.
When I announced this was the one we were going to do, quite a few (students) went and checked the book out from the library to read before we even had auditions, Mette said. As they get more and more lines memorized where they dont have to have their faces in the script the whole time they started to have so much fun adding to their characters with expressions, gestures and all that stuff.
She said the cast is easily skilled enough to successfully stage Shakespeare.
I have quite a few seniors who have been in every show since their freshmen year, Mette said. They are a really strong and dedicated group that puts in so much time and effort. They put a lot of great pre-work into learning about characters in the play, and I had almost twice as many kids audition as we had parts available.
She said the school doesnt perform Shakespeare every year.
Were trying to get on a schedule where we do it every three to four years so that every kid has an opportunity to participate in a Shakespeare play at least once, Mette said. The last time the school did Shakespeare was three years ago, when this years seniors were freshmen. But I decided the seniors were such a strong group that they could handle a second Shakespeare play.
She said the students have worked hard interpreting their characters.
We talk a lot about how can you use your movements, gestures and expressions to help the audience understand whats happening even if they dont necessarily understand the words youre saying, Mette said. Theres a whole part in the play where the two main girl characters Hermia and Helena are trying to fight each other in a physical fist fight. The boys are meantime trying to pull them off each other and keep them apart. It has been so much fun to block that scene and play with that action.
She said this production will also feature original music.
Theres one part in the play where the fairies sing a lullaby to the fairy queen, and I have an exceptional music student a senior this year who has composed an original melody for the lullaby of Shakespeares words, Mette said. Shell play the violin live for the show, and then shes playing transition music between the scenes live as well.
Mette said, despite the Elizabethan language, this play is both accessible and enjoyable for modern audiences.
Theres a lot of misconceptions about how difficult Shakespeare is that its a monster thing thats impossible to understand. Its really not, she said. Shakespeares plays were never meant to be read like a novel. Theyre meant to be performed. Theyre meant to be seen. Theyre meant to have actors adding inflection, emphasis and expression to everything. That makes it so much more understandable and enjoyable than just sitting in a room reading it.
Additionally, she said this particular play is a upbeat comedy.
If there are audience members who feel intimidated by the idea of going to see Shakespeare, dont be. This play is just so much fun. Its so lighthearted. It has so much humor, Mette said. Thats another reason I picked this one. A lot of times in class, you study Shakespeares tragedies. But having an opportunity to do one of his comedies and see that he wasnt all doom and gloom like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth or Hamlet shows theres fun and lightheartedness. Thats a big draw for students and audiences too.
Performances at Brookings High School run April 10-11 at 7 p.m. and April 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door $6 for adults and $4 for students or seniors. School activity passes will be accepted as well.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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