Still Dreaming All Night About“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Although the “course of true love ne’er did run smooth,” the same cannot be said for the performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on April 5 and 7!
In true Elizabethan fashion, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s traveling troupe consisted of only eight performers in their production of the comedy. The cast, although small, was fiercely stunning in versatility and charisma. The troupe’s enchanting acting and charming set allowed audience members to escape the end-of-semester stress and enter a world that seemed but a dream. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of Shakespearean acting today is the ability to deliver the text in a manner that is digestible and entertaining to all audiences — a skill that the troupe had clearly mastered, judging by the laughter that filled Eben Holden during both performances.
On top of their two “Midsummer” shows, the troupe also performed one show of “Julius Caesar” on Saturday, April 6. The script for the play was slightly abridged, though executed in a way that still maintained the play’s substance while allowing for a shortened performance. The decisions on which lines to omit were aptly made, as the plot and beauty of Shakespeare’s work shone brilliantly through.
Friday night and Sunday afternoon saw audiences of all ages from the St. Lawrence community and beyond. The cast graciously provided a talk- back with the audience following each show, allowing audience members to ask questions about and provide commentary on the performance. This opened up enthralling discussions of Shakespeare’s works and the art of performing them. This interactive experience helped, hopefully, to encourage greater interest in theater and literary engagement.
This was the first time St. Lawrence had welcomed an in-person Shakespeare troupe since the COVID-19 pandemic, and those in attendance would agree that we would be glad to see the tradition back. The plays were received extremely well by the audiences, many seeming overjoyed at the opportunity to attend a live Shakespeare performance. As someone who did not have the chance to experience the pre- COVID-19 Shakespeare performances, I was thrilled by the opportunity to enjoy the classic comedy alongside peers, teachers and community members with the same interests.
The event left all of us saying to those who missed it, “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
In addition to providing a delightful night and afternoon of entertainment to our campus, these performances serve as an excellent reminder of the English department’s dedication to fostering student and community engagement with literary studies. On behalf of all students in attendance, I would like to express the deepest thanks to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, as well as to the faculty members who made their visit a success!