If itB次元官网网址檚 true that all the worldB次元官网网址檚 a stage and we are merely players, then students in Belmont secondaryB次元官网网址檚 drama department are heading in the right direction.
For three nights next week the schoolB次元官网网址檚 Prometheus Players company is staging William ShakespeareB次元官网网址檚 A Midsummer NightB次元官网网址檚 Dream, a comedy much lighter than some of the BardB次元官网网址檚 other famous works.
B次元官网网址淣obody dies in this one,B次元官网网址� jokes Grade 12 actor Alisa Lindley, who plays Helena, one of young Athenian lovers.
Lindley performed in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 previous production of Shakespeare, Macbeth and says Dream is a good play for newcomers to the genre to start out with.
It doesnB次元官网网址檛 hurt that the Belmont production is set during the B次元官网网址淪ummer of LoveB次元官网网址� in 1969, either, says fellow cast member and Grade 12 student Ai Horton, who plays Hermia, another Athenian involved in romantic hijinks.
B次元官网网址淗aving it not be in ancient Greece and be more modern makes it more approachable,B次元官网网址� she says.
But donB次元官网网址檛 come expecting to hear B次元官网网址渉ey manB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址済roovyB次元官网网址� coming from the stage inside BelmontB次元官网网址檚 cozy drama room. The dialogue remains true to the original Old-English style the play was written in.
That might trip up many people B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 like a foreign language all its own B次元官网网址� but Grade 12 actor Quinn McKechnie, who plays the Athenian Lysander, says he hasnB次元官网网址檛 had much problem with it. And one shouldnB次元官网网址檛 forget that high school English classes are virtually all about Shakespeare.
B次元官网网址淭he language has a rhythm to it, so itB次元官网网址檚 a little easier to memorize,B次元官网网址� McKechnie says. B次元官网网址淎nd compared to Macbeth, this one is much lighter.B次元官网网址�
Horton says Midsummer NightB次元官网网址檚 Dream is the first Shakespeare comedy sheB次元官网网址檚 been exposed to, a scenario that has been a refreshing change.
During rehearsals, she has had a hard time not laughing at some points at the physical comedy. She figures that humour will transfer to the audience. B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檙e still laughing at a line after 30 times going over it,B次元官网网址� she says, then others will, too.
The playB次元官网网址檚 director, Belmont drama teacher Melissa Young, echoes the statement that this production of Dream will offer people not familiar with Shakespeare a good introduction to his works.
B次元官网网址淭he acting is superb, and thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of songs and dance B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� she says.
Performances run at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21, 22 and 23 in the Belmont drama room, near the north end of the school. Admission is by donation and seating is limited. Arriving half an hour before showtime is recommended to ensure you get a seat.
More information can be found at and at .
