Of Interest - Kimberton Waldorf School

A Midsummer
Night’s Dream
by Mary Hirsch
Magic and fun, with a bit of mischief,
filled the air as the 8th grade class
performed Shakespeare’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream in March just before
spring break. As an audience, we were
watching butterflies emerging from
cocoons as the students bravely took on
their roles, not in a superficial way,
but with depth, dimension and fervor.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream contains some wonderful expressions of lighter Shakespearean themes
-- love, dreams, and creative imagination. If one were to look for a message in this play, it is that the
creative imagination is in tune with the supernatural world and is best used to bestow the blessings
of Nature upon mankind and marriage. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke
of Athens, Theseus (played by Nick Hunter), and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta (played by
Annie Jones). It include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers (Inae Mattiazzi, Kyle Kuzman,
Rosie Biffis and John Hoffman) and a group of amateur actors (Michaela Nemeth, Lauren Mitchell,
Pio Mistretta, Ben Otto, Benedict Roemer, Ben Janisch, Kris Kokoronis), who are manipulated by
the fairies (Juliana Davis, Larkspur Gunther, Lily Gustine and Kathryn Miles) who inhabit the forest in
which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and
is widely performed across the world.
The play transported the audience to a surreal place where we were mesmerized by the characters
and at times, belly laughs abounded. The students took their roles quite seriously and it wasn’t unusual
to see and feel a difference from each of them when off-stage and out of costume. It was equally
fascinating to see them step back into their 8th grade roles as the boys learned what mascara really
is. “Ewww,” one boy said.
“Don’t forget the foundation!” Nicholas Biffis said as makeup was applied to his face. That was the
other thing that was so beautiful about the experience for the students. They all helped each other in
every way…especially in applying their make-up and fixing hair.
“I’m giving Annie smokey eyes,” said Michaela Nemeth, who played Nick Bottom and had the audience
roaring with laughter time and time again. Puck (Jharna), a mischievous imp, plays a little trick
by turning Bottom into a donkey, a role that was played to perfection by Michaela.
Oberon (Patrick Hanser), king of the fairies, instructs Puck to apply magical juice from the flower
“Love in Idleness” to the eyelids of the young Athenian lovers. What unfolds is a mismatch of lovers
and unhappiness at lost love.
The students were exceptional in learning Elizabethan English, which at times was like reciting a
foreign language. They all performed their roles with strength and courage. The delicate fairies sang
precious songs and danced like the wind while Puck creeped and ducked while tricking the “rude mechanicals.”
The duke and queen were regal to the end while, in contrast, the actors were rough and
rowdy. The entire performance was a delight that helped our students to spread their wings and fly.