Students in the Theater III and Theater IV classes recently performed Shakespeare with a modern twist, staging Ken Ludwig’s 2012 play Midsummer/Jersey from November 15–17 in Hanes Theatre.
The show’s script features characters and dialogue from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet, both by William Shakespeare, while also telling a love story set on the Jersey Shore.
Theater teacher Thomas Drago said he chose the play to add variety to the drama program’s lineup of shows for the 2018–19 school year.
“I wanted a comedy with a big cast that offered a different twist on a classic,” Drago said. “I also wanted a show that would contrast the two dramas I picked for the winter.”
Senior Coleman Lemoine, who played Robert, felt that the set design, along with the script, allowed for a distinctive performance.
“The set was so elaborate,” Lemoine said. “The boardwalk was six feet off the ground.”
Drago agreed that the set was a highlight.
“What’s most unique about our production is that we set the entire show on the beach in front of the Jersey Shore boardwalk,” Drago said. “It’s the biggest, most beautiful scenic design we’ve had in years.”
Other elements of the play also stood out. Several of the cast members incorporated interesting footwear into their costumes. Senior James Perkins, who portrayed King Oberon of the fairies, glided around the stage on Heelys, shoes with wheels in the heels.
“We were in the dressing room right before the final dress rehearsal, and I forgot my dress shoes, so I was wearing my normal shoes for the day, which happened to be Heelys,” Perkins said. “[The director’s] face lit up. And so, [I wore them and] the show was improved.”
Similarly, senior Delia Vaisey wore four-inch heels for her costume to play a young woman from the Jersey Shore. Vaisey recalled the difficulties the shoes presented on the tall steps of the set.
“The heels on those giant stairs were scary at first, but eventually I just went with it and tried to make loud, obnoxious running a part of my character,” she said.
Many students portraying people from the Jersey shore employed accents to develop their characters.
“The accents were my favorite part,” sophomore Abby Brown said. “Everyone really did a great job with those.”
Midsummer/Jersey was senior Hadley Connell’s directorial debut at Chapel Hill. Connell also portrayed the fairy Sunflower in the show.
“Directing was incredible,” she said. “It was so great to have creative control and also collaborate with with my cast.”
Science teacher Nick Lenk, who joined the Chapel Hill faculty this fall, went to see the show November 16.
“For me, an important piece of watching a play is the actors convincing me they’re having a wonderful time,” Lenk said. “It was clear to me that everyone involved in the production of this play gave their full effort, and as an observer, it made all the difference.”
Proceeds from ticket sales for the show went to Performing Arts Lovers, a booster group of parents and community members that support the drama program at Chapel Hill.
