Reviews: A Midsummer Night’s Dream-ish at Meridian High School
Written by Emy Fase of Justice High School
Four hopeless lovers sneak away under the glowing moonlight, where the air feels thick with magic and mystery. The walls between reality and fantasy fall back as we are whisked away into—not a forest, but a giant pillow fort! This is not your typical Midsummer Night's Dream, it's A Midsummer Night's Dream-ish, Meridian High School's own imaginative and wacky take on Shakespeare's classic comedy. With a timeless story blending with modern-day references, dream-like staging, and a fairy rock band, this production transforms a classic tale into something enchantingly different, where time passes like a dream as love—and humor—takes center stage.
Never has there been a more chaotic foursome than the lovers, which the actors Samantha Grooms (Hermia), Eudora Neal (Helena), Hugo Ratheau (Demetrius), and Abby Berg (Lysander) fully embraced. They pushed the absurdity to its limits each time they were on stage. Each actor brought vibrant energy and magnetic chemistry, fully committing to every wild twist and emotional turn. Their physical comedy was spot on, whether it was chasing each other through the fort, collapsing in melodramatic heartbreak into the mound of pillows, or quarreling with their lover (or ex-lover, or lover’s-ex-lover) every movement was purposeful and perfectly timed.
Another ensemble ready to seize the stage was the ever-hilarious Rude Mechanicals, a group of amateur actors within the play who tackled the difficult art of bad acting done right. Each performer brought an original flair to their character, creating a cast of distinct personalities that each stood out as individuals, but shone as a group even more. With impeccable comedic timing and sharp-tongued sarcasm, the actors brought a new type of humor to the show that elicited laughter from the audience at the end of every Shakespearean line. Particular standouts were Jack Kreul (Nick Bottom), along with Marshall Vogel-Rogers (Francis Flute).
What truly brought this production to the next level was the unwavering commitment of every cast member. Each performer remained fully engaged, keeping the audience deeply immersed in their magical world.
Of course, no show comes to life without the magic of tech, and in this show the technical team played a massive role in bringing the dreamlike world to life and creating a whimsical atmosphere. The set, designed by Bailey Cash and the Technical Theater Class transformed the stage into a giant pillow fort, complete with towers of mattresses, vibrant pillows, and a curtain of sheets that was suspended over the stage. The actors interacted with the set seamlessly; whether they were bouncing off the set or falling perfectly in place, everything was just where it needed to be.
This dreamy environment was enhanced further by the show's costume design done by Mallory Reed, Fiona Gillaspy, Anna Goldenberg, and Ainsley Gorman. Every character was dressed in nightwear-inspired outfits, a stunning detail that tied in with the production's dreamy sleepover concept. Along with PJs, each fairy had its own set of wings that aligned with their character and flowed elegantly behind them. Each costume was impressively handcrafted and fitted to each character, adding visual interest through texture and color to each scene. Color was creatively utilized by matching the colors of each couple's costume with who they would eventually end up with.
As the lights came up and the dream faded the audience was left to laugh and reminisce about the world created by Meridian High School, love and chaos, and how the unexpected can turn into something wonderful. With a committed cast, clever comedy, and stunning technical elements, Midsummer Night's Dream-ish was certainly a story worth dreaming.
Written by May Campbell of Westfield High School
Underneath a billowing sky of sheets, four lovers weave through a thick brush of pillows, every step toeing the line between the waking world and the realm of dreams. Meridian High School's whimsical production of A Midsummer Night's Dream-ish maintained a mirthful atmosphere amongst increasingly ridiculous shenanigans.
Written by William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream follows the intertwined fates of four young lovers as they venture into the faerie's forest realm, where magical royalty squabbles and an amateur theatre troupe struggles through rehearsal. Meridian High School's version of the classic play embraced the dream-like qualities of the original, and endeared the show to a contemporary audience by switching character's lines, including modern dialogue, and occasionally providing present-day social commentary.
The entire cast's energized and coordinated motions merged together to create a seamless environment. Lovers, faeries, and donkeys alike climbed over plush mounds of bedding, embodying a late-night fervor as they flounced dramatically onto the cushions and fell gracelessly after spiteful blows.
The four lovers' convoluted relationships shifted often and rapidly, as the result of a liberally applied love potion. All four swiftly shifted through vastly different emotions, one moment brawling ruthlessly, and the next embracing each other passionately. Eudora Neal, playing ditzy Helena, initially closed herself off to her enamored companions, shielding herself with a restrained posture and side stepping to avoid her admirers. She soon grew to relish the affection, however, clutching her competing devotees close. Hermia, played by Samantha Grooms, grew furious with Helena, and demonstrated her indignation through strong movements, clenched fists, and a determined glare. As Demetrius, Hugo Ratheau made full use of his ample vocal range, effortlessly juggling the flowing original text, modern English additions, and even a monologue in Spanish. Ratheau not only managed differing styles of text, but also balanced a range of tones, from infatuation, to abhorrence, to ridicule, weaving together a smooth tapestry of vocal choices. Lysander, played by Abby Berg, craved affection even before the meddlesome potion. Berg's attitude embraced the longing gaze and hopeful tone of a true romantic, as Lysander and Helena remained in a near-inseparable embrace that was loose and natural.
Jack Kreul, playing Nick Bottom, incorporated a boisterous arrogance into every motion, each step maintaining a confidence bordering on cocky, even after being magically transformed into a donkey by the fairy Puck. The mischievous sprite himself was played by Mia Schatz, who carefully countervailed Puck's apparent innocence and giddy laugh with a mischievous grin and impulsive actions that sent the plot spiraling.
Much of the production's dream-like quality was enabled by the set, designed and constructed by Bailey Cash with the assistance of the Technical Theater Class. Hippolyta's bedroom smoothly transitioned to reveal a much larger set constructed almost entirely out of pillows, couch cushions, and mattresses. Above the plush forest, a sky made of bedsheets completed the environment, hanging from above to create the illusion of an extended world offstage. The costumes team, consisting of Mallory Reed, Fiona Gillaspy, Anna Goldenberg, and Ainsley Gorman, furthered the dream motif by dressing the Athenians in pajamas and the faeries in loose scarves and garments. Additionally, many of the faeries' costumes corresponded with their names: Mustardseed in bright yellow, Cobweb in wispy whites, and Grass in a pastel green.
Through an endlessly interactive set and consistently engaged performers, Meridian High School's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream-ish created a world so entrancing that even after the show finished, it still "seems that yet we sleep, we dream."