CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - From Thursday, Nov. 20, through Saturday, Nov. 22 the John Jay Theater Workshop will present A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Performances will be held nightly at 7 p.m., with an additional Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. Tickets are $7, and can be purchased at the door or online here.
In portraying Theseus, Sophia Cheng praised Shakespeare’s timeless impact.
“Shakespeare defined theater for an age that was bleak and empty, and he humanized art,” the actress assured.
But the era and the old-school language of the comedy shouldn’t be a concern, according to Aaron Koenig.
“If I was in your position, I would be thinking the same thing. I’d say, I don’t want to go to a Shakespeare show. I don’t know what these people are saying, and then I’d watch,” explained Koenig. “I would realize you can understand everything just by watching.”
His friend Reilly Squadron epitomized that idea during rehearsal. With his voice temporarily lost, the director read his lines from the seats, yet Squadron still performed on stage in hopes of a speedy recovery. “Reilly is doing an absolutely great job of portraying his emotions physically,” clarified Koenig.
For himself, it would take a lot more than a tender throat to quiet his passion. “I love being on stage. I really don’t have a fear of being embarrassed. I don’t care what people think,” he asserted. “You can see my entire death scene. It’s the most embarrassing thing in the play, but I don’t care. If it makes the audience laugh, it’s worth it.”
That confidence comes through in his character, and for Nick Bottom’s journey, it’s essential. “None of them like me. But I really want to be in charge, and by the end, it’s really obvious that they need me,” said Koenig.
In turn, the actor feeds off the evolution. “So I come out and show out,” he said.
The same goes for Gracyn Holm-Jorgenson, though she didn’t have to say a word to stand out. Playing Puck, the Queen of the Fairies’ mischievous servant, she sports full hippie gear in the modernized production. “At first I thought the outfit was really loud,” said Holm-Jorgenson.
Of course, she came around. “This is really groovy,” the actress gushed.
Confidence in tow, her portrayal has Puck living up to the character. “I love mischief. So yes, I do what Oberon tells me, but I also have a little fun with it,” she revealed.
Cheng also spoke up about her outfit and reveled in its whimsical flair. “That’s one of the fun parts of theater. We get to mess around, have fun and dress up in clothes we wouldn’t be caught dead in today,” she joked.
More seriously, Cheng considered Shakespeare’s message in a contemporary context. “Oberon believes that love is about power imbalance,” said Cheng. “I think he learns that love cannot be controlled and taken advantage of. But that’s up to the discretion of the audience.”
Cheng downplays her versatility, despite excelling on both the softball field and the stage. “I wouldn’t consider myself great in either, but we can try,” she said.
Supporting the production behind the scenes is Cormac Kendall, a junior stagehand who takes great pride in the build crew. “It’s a lot of wood, a lot of paint and a lot of time,” he said. “Building gives you a sense of accomplishment. We work really hard on this set, and when people see it, everybody loves it.”
There are many moving parts, and Bohdan Adrianowycz plays a key role in keeping them in sync. As student technical director under Kim Kenny, the duo coordinates lighting, set design, and other technical elements. “She works really close with pretty much everyone, and I’m working with her,” said Adrianowycz.
Mirabelle Wright also helps coordinate as Assistant Stage Manager, following the instructions of Calvin Wein.
“ASM is either stage left or stage right. So they help oversee all the stagehands, who make sure all the things are in place when they need to be,” Wright revealed.
Shakespeare may seem complicated, but only on the surface, according to Delia Margie. Playing Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons, she keeps her performance grounded.
“All done in an entertaining and funny way, its complicated language is still very accessible,” she said.
The cast and company look forward to welcoming audiences this weekend.
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