A new kind of story has taken Elizabethtown College by storm this past week with the performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which hit the Tempest Theater the weekend of March 14 and will continue from March 20-22. The legendary play by William Shakespeare, originally written in 1595, was brought to life once again by director Griffin Yeyna and student director Madison Stewart.
Set in ancient Athens, the play revolves around a group of crossed Athenian lovers and a group of six actors called the Mechanicals, who respectively must find their lovers and perform for the wedding but get lost in a forest inhabited by meddling fairies. Yeyna, who is returning to the Tempest stage as a director again after 2023’s “Rhinoceros,” was excited to tackle a Shakespeare play, and saw the diversity of the cast as a cue to explode outwards in every direction.
“Looking through the list, there were a lot of Shakespeare titles. ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is one of Shakespeare’s most accessible pieces and even features a built-in audience. Everyone from middle schoolers to those in their 90’s can appreciate it,” Yeyna said. “Looking back, it is important now because the show is just so goofy and lighthearted in so many ways. As people grow older, they tend to learn out of ‘play.’ This show is a great vessel to allow everyone to laugh and have fun for a night.”
Instead of a by-the-book approach, Yeyna and Stewart have taken a page from the Expressionist art movement and the New Romantics’ styles of color and dress. This iteration of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” features 17 of the college’s talented thespians quipping and improvising with each other under colorful strobes, flitting along the stage and blooming with ability, coached closely by the directors.
“One thing I’ve learned through this process is that the nitty gritty details are what make a difference,” Stewart said. “What colors the set should be, the colors of the floor, the audio clips, the punchlines from the actors, it all has to fit the vision.”
The costumes are bold and attention-grabbing as much as they are referential and indicative of each character’s personality and motives. Hermia, played by Em Clark, is such an example. Audiences will not be able to resist the coquettish grace of the leading lady, who shines not from antique beauty but punk rebellion and goth whimsy, glittering in combat boots and black dresses embedded with beads and sequins.
“Seeing the show come to life, especially in the auditions, was my favorite part by far,” Stewart said, who recalls Clark saying after her audition that she felt “possessed by the spirit of Hermia.”
“I struggle with my own expression, so seeing these actors embrace the absurdity has inspired my own bravery to be myself,” Stewart said.
Aileigh Mulligan, who plays mechanical Nick Bottom, could not agree more.
“All of my siblings have acted in ‘A Midsummer Night’s,’ and I feel I first understood Shakespeare through seeing portrayals of Nick Bottom. So I jumped at the opportunity,” she said. “He’s a hard character to understand on the first go, but living through his proud character and sweet intentions has brought similar qualities out in myself. I just walk into every room feeling louder and more confident than ever!”
The lively energy between the cast members is palpable during the show. Yeyna, who wished to enhance the comedic parts of the script but retain the classic bits for the diehards, encouraged improvisation and the embrace of dramatic irony and situational comedy in the actor’s portrayals.
This is especially true of the ridiculous and cocky Demetrius, played by first-year psychology major Nate Kubasko. Kubasko began acting at four and was introduced to the musical “Rent” early on through his mother.
“There’s a lot of physicality on stage, whether it be through romantic flirting or combat, so figuring out my co-stars’ mannerisms and characters has been a joy and surprise,” Kubasko said. “There are a few moments where I am a totally arrogant and conceited jerk– but it has been a blast to play him and have fun with that on stage, especially with the character Helena.”
Sophomore occupational therapy major Claire Grau, who plays Helena, shines onstage as both comedic relief and a character whose earnestness the audience will undeniably root for.
“Imagine this, you aren’t stuck in traffic anymore, and you aren’t at work anymore. We didn’t want this play to be bogged down in realism and belief, but about experiencing theatre and taking audiences along for the ride. This is a formal invitation to be goofy with us.” Yeyna said.
Keep up with the upcoming performances through their Instagram page @etowntheatreclubs.
