As William Shakespeare wrote in his famous comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
While his observation is undoubtedly true, the cast and crew of this week’s upcoming Georgian Bay District Secondary School production of the full-length Shakespearen classic are certainly hoping for a smooth run.
Featuring a cast and crew of nearly 40 students, plus many school staff and community volunteers helping out, the play features four performances beginning Thursday evening.
“It's a show not to be missed,” GBDSS drama teacher and play director Betony Main tells MidlandToday.
“Audiences will be blown away by the calibre of the production and the students' performances. It's a delight to support their work, support our school community and see the next generation of theatre stars.”
As a side note, Main notes that local actress Shayla Brown, who appears in the recent Oscar-winning filming Women Talking, played the title character in last year's GBDSS production of Matilda.
“We genuinely mean it when we say that this is an opportunity to see young talent that you'll be able to later say 'I knew them when,’” Main says, adding the actors have been doing a stunning job bringing the story, characters and magic of Shakespeare’s comedy to life.
“As a director, I've been totally blown away watching the students tackle and absolutely nail text that many would find challenging. The technical work that our students and staff have done to create the magical world is also phenomenal, and I'm so impressed and proud of what they've created.”
Main says the play will transport the audience into a magical forest and take them on a journey of love, magic and joy, adding: “What could be better?”
“Shakespeare is, well, 'Shakespeare' for a reason,” Main says. “Even 400 years later, his plays are totally relevant, funny and fun. A Midsummer Night's Dream is the original rom-com and absolutely holds up. It's still incredibly moving and hilarious.”
Set in an enchanted forest with fairies, sparring lovers and a group of amateur actors who are putting on a play, Shakespeare’s classic play features the trials and tribulations of two couples as they fall in and out of love and get mixed up in a magical forest.
According to Main, the cast have been rehearsing for months to present this timeless tale of love and magic and even attended workshops with an expert in Shakespearean acting from the Stratford Festival.
“For our production, specifically, Shakespeare's plays remain well-known by both students and the community alike,” Main says. “And our cast is absolutely phenomenal and was very eager for a challenge. They've handled the text like literal pros.”
Main says the play itself is “absolute magic” and it’s been a dream to tell this story about literal love and joy, and to create the magical fairy forest.
“It's also so, so, funny. The play-within-a-play with the rude mechanicals is some of my absolute favourite writing for theatre of all time.”
The play begins in preparation for a royal wedding, as Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, are in final preparations before their wedding. Theseus is approached by Egeus, the father of a young daughter, Hermia, who is refusing to marry the man of her father’s choosing - Demetrius. Instead, Hermia would rather marry the man of her choosing, Lysander, and Demetrius’ ex-girlfriend Helena still pines for her love.
When Hermia and Lysander run away into the forest to elope, they are followed by Demetrius and Helena. There, they encounter a band of mischievous fairies. Armed with love potions, the fairies make the young lovers fall in and out of love with each other, causing confusion, uproar and hilarity.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with a matinee Saturday as well beginning at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children and students.
For more information and to order tickets, click here.
