A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Gillian Riley Nogeire June 9th-29th, 2013 Present at New York Restoration Project and The Arthur Seelan Theater Cast: Nathaniel French, Veronique Jeanmarie, Heather Knobel, David Meyers, Rebeca Miller*, Nick Neglia, Lee Nishri, Jose Luis Paez, Alice Rothman-Hicks*, Andrew Schoomaker and Kelly Zekas Behind the scenes: Cameron Draper (stage manager), Lydian Vargas (Design), Corinne Woods (production manager) |
The Story: A progeny of evils has fallen upon Athens. A father attempts to condemn his own daughter to death. Law and justice have no union. Truest friends turn one upon the other while truest loves melt like hail. It seems an unknown force has perpetuated these atrocities, for the humans certainly do not blame themselves: Something non-human must be culpable. For Hermia and Lysander, there is no recourse but to escape. By stealth of night they flee Athens for the greener grass of an unknown land - but seven leagues through the Athenian woods bring other crosses. They are pursued. Demetrius, recently enamored with Hermia, chases after and love-struck Helena, chases him. Unwittingly, these four lovers have entered a world beyond their imagination. In the woods, Oberon and Titania, the fairy king and queen, have their own lover’s quarrel and their brawls have infected everything around them. Oberon has enlisted his faithful servant Puck to help him put all to right, but Puck’s mischievous ways cause their own bedlam. To add to the pandemonium of the night, a group of Athenians have chosen the woods to rehearse their play but instead become players in Puck’s farce. There is no time to untie this knot - but all must be done in one midsummer night!