The Hilltop Players will end its 2014 season of theater with a classic farce by William Shakespeare, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Curtain is at 7:30 p.m, Friday – Saturday, April 10, 11, 12 and 3 p.m., Sunday, April 13 at Kelly Theatre.
Left to right: Jedidiah Shook, Alexandria Glotfelty, Gina Diomedi and Carlito Gilchrist rehearse their roles.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream plays with the universal theme of love, and its complications, disappointments, and confusions,” according to Theatre Director Michael L. Aulick.
Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father insists she marry Demetrius. To escape the arranged marriage, she and Lysander elope into the woods followed by Demetrius. However, he is pursued by the love struck Helena.
“The course of true love never did run smooth,” writes Shakespeare in Act 1, Scene 1 of his classic play.
This love quadrangle is complicated further when they happen on a band of mischievous fairies and one, Robin Goodfellow (AKA Puck), attempts to play Cupid. The love connections are further confused by a magic flower and eventually, the two noble men are fighting over the love of Helena.
“Oh, what fools these mortals be.” (Act 3, Scene 2.)
Meanwhile, a group of amateur actors, rehearsing a badly written play in the woods, happen upon the lair of the fairies, where Oberon and Titania, the warring king and queen of the fairies are at odds.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is widely performed around the world, and no wonder – it’s about the world’s most popular pastime, falling in love. But as Puck knows, falling in love can make fools of us all. Love is crazy, love is mad. Will love win out in the end?” added Aulick.
The cast includes:
- THESEUS / OBERON – Mack B. Kale
- HIPPOLYTA / TITANIA – Meaghan Macey
- PHILOSTRATE / PUCK – Margaret P. Dillon
- EGEUS – Andrew Harper
- LYSANDER – Carlito K. Gilchrist
- HERMIA – Geena I. Diomedi
- DEMETRIUS – Jedidiah Z. Shook
- HELENA – Alexandria N. Glotfelty
- QUINCE – Alex E. Franke
- FLUTE – Brady Dunn
- BOTTOM – Michael Aulick
- SNOUT – David Dudzik
- STARVELING – Dustin Bailey
- FAIRIES, Cobweb, Sara E. Reed; Peaseblossom, Zoe Poindexter; Mustardseed, Caitlin Reasbeck; Moth, Kacie Craig; Rose Dianthus, Val Zamski.
Ticket Prices: $5 for WLU students; $7 for seniors, students of other schools, and WLU employees; $7 for Groups (8 or more); $12.50 for general admission.
Or you may purchase tickets online at a discounted rate at wlumidsummer.brownpapertickets.com. For more information please call the box office at 304.336.8277.