Ark Valley News - Totally Shakespeare

Lily Wilson (left) and Elijah Smith rehearse a scene in “A Midsummer Night's Dream" April 16. The play will be April 19 and 20.

Totally Shakespeare
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: April 18, 2024

Play mixes classic story with 1980s vibe

If you like Shakespeare and you like the 1980s (and who doesn't, really?), you may want to take in this weekend's spring play at Valley Center High School.

The high school drama department will perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" — the ancient "romantic" comedy paired with an obvious homage to '80s music and style — at 7 p.m. April 19 and 20 in the high school auditorium.

The audience "can expect a lot of shenanigans, a lot of collaboration with different students. It's definitely a group show," Abri Geist, the show's director, said. "… There's some fight choreography and some hilarity — and fairies."

Though the cast and crew hope it doesn't come through on show nights, putting together the production has been especially hectic this spring.

For reasons not shared with the public, the school's first-year theater teacher, DeAnna Winkler, has not been at school or involved with the production for the past month or so.

Students (from left) Reagan Lopez, Cambree Ricks and Eli Miller rehearse April 16.

Geist, who was hired last month to finish the show, said Winkler's absence has made the students pull together even stronger.

"Most of them know what they're doing," Geist said. "They're committed enough that they want to do it. The set design was done by a student. The lighting design, Eli (Smith) did it. The sound design, a student did it. Costumes, I think they all kind of came up with their costumes. I have a student co-director, a student stage manager. Not every high school has students like these."

Geist was familiar with Valley Center High School before this spring. She built sets for former teacher Megan Upton-Tyner for five years.

"The kids are worth it," Geist said. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have done it."

Senior Lily Wilson, who plays Tatania (queen of the fairies) dressed like Madonna, said she was glad her final high school show was not cancelled.

"This has been a really cool experience, stressful, but a really cool experience," Wilson said. "It's been up to a lot of Hornet theater leadership. … We've really just been doing everything we possibly can to get this show going. We really wanted this show."

Besides her role on stage, Wilson also designed the set.

Junior Elijah Smith, who plays Oberon (king of the fairies) dressed like Billy Idol, said there are several parallels between the time of Shakespeare and the 1980s.

"The show is really like, if you think about it, it's like what the '80s was, just different feelings and different language," Smith said. "… A lot of the pop culture stuff of the '80s was this show."

"Expect a lot of laughs," Wilson added. "… It really is a fun show."

Students (from left) Koltin Tripp, Rachel Diehl, Samuel Randolph, Danika Campo, Benjamin Randolph and Beau Jordan rehearse a scene April 16.

A Midsummer

Night's Dream

Cast

Lysander – Eli Miller; Hermia – Cambree Ricks; Demetrius – Wyatt Wolf; Helena – Reagan Lopez; Hippolyta – Nadia Jarecka; Theseus – Jeff Garten; Egeus – Ethan Dillman; Quince – Danika Campo; Bottom/Pyrumus – Sam Randolph; Flute/Thisbe – Bennie Randolph; Snug/Lion – Beau Jordan; Snout/Wall – Koltin Tripp; Starling/Moon – Rachel Diehl; Oberon – Elijah Smith; Titania – Lily Wilson; Puck – Veah Castillo; Peaseblossom – Lili Salcedo; Mustardseed – Hayley Myrtes; Sweetpea – Leah Jessup; Cobweb – Lailah Parks; Moth – Kenzie Turner.