Photo courtesy of Covenant College Marketing
Covenant’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was a huge success, with all four major performances sold out. Set in the Appalachian Mountains in “Athens,” West Virginia, audiences were transported into an enchanted forest where confused lovers, mischievous fairies and magic spells blurred the line between reality and dream.
The set, made out of recycled wooden palettes, was stacked and painted to create a layered and dynamic environment for fairies and mechanicals to leap across. The costumes were carefully curated, using paint, feathers, beads and other trinkets to create the fairy garments and collected antebellum and homespun pieces for the mechanicals and lovers.
The three types of accents used represent the region and tell their own story of the origin of the characters. The fairies performed in a Scottish accent, referencing the Scottish immigrants that settled in the Appalachian Mountains in the early 18th century. Also, the fairies did not assimilate into the “Athenian” culture. The lovers used an Antebellum accent to represent their higher-class status, while the mechanicals spoke in a Southern drawl.
The performers clearly understood the often complex Shakespearean language, and this was reflected in their acting choices. They struck a careful balance between absurd comedy and consistency with the original script.
The whole cast’s chemistry was evident, especially in any scene involving a romantic connection, something not easy to pull off with your classmates. Their vulnerability on stage and commitment to dramatic reactions to the story allowed the audience to enter into the warped and mystical world of Shakespeare’s most prominent rom-com. Behind this lively performance was the steady hand of a director well-versed in Shakespearean theatre.
Additionally, original music composed and performed by music students added a layer of whimsy and auditory interest to the rich accent work and clever rhymes of Shakespeare. While Covenant’s theatre program has seen a dip in interest and resources, it is picking itself back up thanks to the hard work of new professors and passionate students who are excited to bring stories of love and drama to the community of Covenant.
Photo Courtesy of Covenant College Marketing.