SIMCOE COUNTY - Theatre by the Bay is bringing a comedic rendition of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to schools across Simcoe County.
After nine days of non-stop rehearsal, director Ryan LaPlante, Theatre By The Bay artistic director Scott Hurst, associate producer Erica Angus and the cast of Alysa King, Nicolette Pearse, Mike Holland, Nathaniel Fried and Brandon Crone, have pulled together a Shakespeare play suitable for Grades 3 to 12.
They launched their first performance on April 16 to Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School at the Mady Centre for Performing Arts, 1 Dunlop St. W.
“I thought it was really good and really funny,” said Rebecca Rose, a Grade 9 student from the Orillia school.
Not your typical Shakespeare play, the performance included plenty of audience interaction, quick character and costume changes, and comedy that changes up and adapts according to the audience.
Their first performance filled up the building with 140 students and teachers from Patrick Fogarty. With only five performers transitioning to at least three characters each, the actors portrayed all Midsummer Night’s Dream characters from Puck to Lysander to Hermia and Helena in 50 minutes.
LaPlante said this is the first time since the very first year that the six-year tour has been a condensed version of the play.
“It’s very hectic but everybody worked really hard,” said LaPlante. “It’s great because we’re doing the whole play with five actors so they average three characters each over the length of it.”
Students from Patrick Fogarty were encouraged to ask questions after the performance to the actors and LaPlante.
Pearse, who plays Helena, said doing Shakespeare a couple times helps to get used to the language. “It’s not as difficult to understand it and remember it,” she said.
King, whose characters included Hermia, said she likes to do anything when it comes to acting. “I actually try to find projects that are different,” she added.
Holland said it’s his first time doing Shakespeare. “I was doing stunt last year and comedy before that so I’m trying to get back into comedy,” said Holland, who plays Puck.
“You have a really hard day and you hate your character. And you have a really good day and you love it again,” said Fried who plays Lysander.
Crone, who plays Oberon, says getting involved in acting can be a bit of struggle because there’s not a lot of job security.
The production had a special two-day performance to four schools on April 16 and 17 at the Mady Centre.
From April 18 to May 4, the cast will be bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to schools around the region.
“We would love to come to Orillia, and we have come to Orillia in the past,” said associate producer Erica Angus, noting openings in the schedule from April 30 to May 4. “We want to come up there.”
Call Angus at 705-735-9243 to book your school’s performance today.
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/1994627-shakespeare-for-students/