By: Carlos O’Ryan
Staff Writer
The Hammond Theatre Department is currently getting deep into rehearsals for the fall play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which will be performing on November 8, 9 and 10 at 7:00 PM, and on November 10th at 2:00 PM.
As most Hammond students may already know, as A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a Freshman English class text, this Shakespearean comedy typically takes place in Athens, and involves a quartet of lovers who venture into a forest to either win hearts or to escape the harsh marital laws the city, while a band of woodland fairies, the king and queen of which are in the middle of a feud, cause mischief amongst them. As this is happening, a group of excitable and dim-witted “Rude Mechanicals” rehearse a play to present at the wedding of the Duke of Athens, and have their own run-ins win the trickster fairies of the forest.
Many students, both returning to the department and new to Hammond Theatre in general, are excited to be doing a Shakespearean production, here is what a few of them had to say about the play, and their role in it:
Kristina McKirahan (Sophmore), Playing Peter Quince, leader of the mechanicals:
What intrigues you most about your character?
I think it’s really awesome the way Peter Quince is different than the average mechanicals because he’s trying to get them all together, and really have order, and the mechanicals are usually all over the place.
What are you most excited for in this production?
I would be most excited for getting back with all my friends again and putting on another awesome production, and just being able to have fun!
Kayelee McDonald (Senior), Playing Puck, the mischievous fairy:
What intrigues you most about your character?
Puck is an interesting character because he is the type of character that weaves the story all together, and he mends the world together which I think is very interesting because a lot of the characters are stuck in their own world and Puck’s all over the place, which makes it interesting for me.
What are you most excited for in this production?
I’m definitely excited because I’m usually casted as the evil kind of characters and I’ve never played a character quite like this, so it’s definitely going to be interesting trying to get into that peppy, kind of trickster mindspace, because I’ve never done that before.
Grace Quade (Senior), Playing Hermia, one of the four lovers:
What intrigues you most about your character?
My character intrigues me most, because for some reason she is the popular one that everyone’s interested in. Her friendship with Helena is really interesting to me, because while she is having all this attention, she keeps this friend by her side.
What are you most excited for in this production?
I am most excited for getting to interact with some of my friends who I haven’t been able to see in for while, in these like, close knit groups.
Although the cast has already been set upon, students who are interested in receiving service hours or just being involved in the play in general can join tech crew for this production, where they can be involved in helping with stage crew (changing scenes), building the sets for the play, setting up the lights for the show, making sure that the microphones sound good at the mic booth, or they can even help with costumes and make-up. The Theatre Department is always thankful for more hands on deck, so your help would be very appreciated! The next tech crew meeting is on Wednesday, October 10th, and if you have any additional questions you can email Mrs. Tobiason at Lauren_Tobiason@hcpss.org.
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