Posing in character are (top row, from left) TJ Brescia (Lysander) and Riley Burden (Demetrius) and (bottom row, from left) Scarlett Anthony (Hermia) and Anusha Krishnan (Helena).
Take four lovers in ancient Athens, add some royalty and a mischievous fairy with a penchant for casting spells, mix well – and the result is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” And with a cast and crew of 40, it’s also Westfield High’s upcoming play.
Show times are Thursday-Friday, Nov. 7-8, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 9, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, adults; $10, students, at the door or via www.westfieldtheatre.com.
In the story, four Athenians – Lysander, Demetrius, Helena and Hermia – run away to the forest. There, a spell by fairy Puck makes Lysander and Demetrius fall in love with Helena. Meanwhile, Hermia’s supposed to marry Demetrius in an arranged marriage; but in reality, she and Lysander love each other. While the lovers pursue each other in the woods, Puck helps his master, fairy King Oberon, play a trick on fairy Queen Titania.
“The moral of this show is ‘be careful what you wish for,’” said Director Christine Maxted. “The audience will like the chemistry between the actors, especially the lovers. They work well with each other, making brave and bold acting choices to enhance their performances – and they’re not afraid to be silly. People of all ages will enjoy it.”
“While Shakespeare’s language can be intimidating, we’ve broken down the poetic meanings behind the lines,” she continued. That way, the audience may easily understand them. “I’m incredibly proud of how the students have embraced this text,” she added.
“And I love that they’ve come in with ideas about their characterizations and have researched other productions to see different interpretations. As for the set, our forest is more like a playground, so there are multiple platforms of varying heights, a slide, a ladder to climb and even a cave.”
Portraying Hermia is senior Scarlett Anthony. “Hermia is strong, smart and romantic,” said Anthony. “She loves the idea of love more than the actual act, but she and Lysander have this great love story.
“However, Hermia’s mother is forcing her to marry Demetrius, so she and Lysander run away into the woods – and Helena and Demetrius follow. She and Helena are best friends, but Hermia’s jealous of Helena after Puck casts a spell making both Lysander and Demetrius pine after Helena.”
“I love playing Hermia; she’s a Disneyesque kind of character like a princess,” said Anthony. “It’s fun to play up Hermia’s heightened emotions, and I also like being part of the four-lovers ensemble. Audiences will like the show’s humor and will also enjoy all the contrasting groups. And watching how they align with each other will be really interesting to see.”
Senior Anusha Krishnan plays Helena. “She’s obsessed with the idea of love, and especially with her love for Demetrius – and that drives all her actions,” said Krishnan. “She’s also emotional, tends to make large outbursts and is easily upset. She spends most of the show crying.”
Enjoying her role, Krishnan said, “Some of Helena’s actions are bad, but her intentions are just to fall in love. She’s so much fun to play because I can be big and loud; and because she’s such a distinct character, you know when she’s there. I get to shout at people and literally fight for the man I love.”
Krishnan said audiences will like this play because “all the actors are insanely talented, and it’s a physically active show. So whether or not you can understand Shakespeare, it’s still going to be fun to watch.”
Portraying Lysander is senior TJ Brescia. “Lysander’s in love with Hermia, but he’s also clumsy, slightly pompous, boastful and flamboyant in a way,” said Brescia. “He respects Hermia, is affectionate toward her and tries to maintain their love.
“I enjoy playing him because I like doing physical comedy and bringing attention to Lysander’s clumsiness throughout the play. And because it’s in Shakespeare’s language, emphasizing Lysander’s actions makes it easier for the audience to understand what’s happening.”
Brescia said people will also like the “impressive and intricate” set and how the actors use it. “We interact with a slide and a ball pit,” he said. “And the show has great casting, so the audience will like how the characters respond to each other. I’m happy with all the work we put into this play and am excited to perform it for the audience.”
Sophomore Riley Burden plays Demetrius. “He’s quiet, competitive, a little shady, and a bit sleazy when it comes to money,” said Burden. “At the start, he doesn’t love Hermia as much as Lysander does. But he made a business deal with Hermia’s mother that, if he marries her, she’ll reward him financially.”
It’s fun to play him, said Burden, because “I go from hating and being annoyed by Helena to loving and almost worshiping her. It’s a big contrast that happens quickly, so I get to show a range of emotions. I also get to show my character’s comedy in the two different ways he responds to Helena.”
Burden said audiences will enjoy each individual character’s acting range, plus their interactions with each other. Furthermore, he said, “There’s lots of laughter and comedy – it’s a really funny show. I think audiences will be rolling on the floor laughing.”