Written by: Rebecca Straits (Rjs006@marietta.edu)
An annual tradition in Marietta continued as Shakespeare By The River returned to East Muskingum Park. Marietta College’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream had its opening night last Thursday, September 4th, at the park’s gazebo. The play just wrapped up as it took place on select dates through September 13th. However, Marietta College’s next production is on its way as the 20th Annual New Plays in One Day Festival comes on October 18th.
Set in the forest of Athens Greece, a mixture of love and chaos unfold to create this
Shakespearean romcom where the fairy and human worlds collide. The play was cut into five acts with the main plot following four Athenian lovers as they are intercepted by the fairy world and forced to fall in and out of love with each other in a series of shenanigans and chaos caused by the fairy Puck (left). Puck was played by senior Carlee Hankinson.
The play also follows the subplots of The Mechanicals as they rehearse a play for the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, and the quarrel of Obeon (the king of the fairies) and Titania (the queen of the fairies) as they fight over a changeling boy. Obeon was played by Quayle McKay and Gwen Sour while Emma Gandor had the role of Titania.
The production was a combination of new and old; its use of Elizabethan language and
themes contrasted nicely with the more modern elements of the actors’ costumes and
music. The play also had a diverse cast, ranging in age from 7-60, from all over the
Marrietta community.
Ian Alspaugh as Nick Bottom and Emma Gandor as Titania surrounded by her fairies
Overall, the actors and the production team did an excellent job adapting this Shakespearean classic into something that was both fun and engaging for everyone in the community.
The play went on from September 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13 from 8:00 to10:00 p.m., this production was part of Marietta College’s annual Shakespeare By The River and was free for all to come and enjoy. To keep up with the Theatre Department’s productions this year visit them at marietta.edu/theatre-season.
Edited by: Zachary Worstell (zdw001@marietta.edu)
