A painting which depicts a scene from a Midsummer Night’s Dream. The fantastical show was bound to be comedic with its whimsical and mischevious characters. (Scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania and Bottom/Edwin Landseer/Google Cultural Institute/Public Domain)

For the first time in two years, Ocean Lakes Theatre Company (OLTC) will put together a Shakespearean show this fall.

This year’s fall play will be a rendition of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and performances will begin on Nov. 16.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a Shakespeare comedy about the balance of chaos and order. 

“Essentially, these four groups [of characters] become magically intertwined when Oberon and his wife, Tatiana, [King and Queen of the fairy world], get into a huge fight,” said theatre teacher and director Claude Blanchard. “This war between Oberon and Tatiana escalates into characters being put under spells, turned into animals and much more.”

OLTC began to rehearse this classic in September, where they spent the first few rehearsals in their respective groups. They recently integrated the groups and ran the technical elements to get ready for the full performance.

“The cast and crew are working very hard to put on an amazing and very funny show,” said sophomore and executive board member of the OLTC Grace Kavanaugh.

The last time OLTC produced a Shakespearean play, they placed a modern twist on the classic “Caesar” by creating a modern setting and gender-swapped cast. For this production, the theatre company plans on sticking to the script. 

“Our Theatre Company season motto is keeping it classic,” said Blanchard.

“When we did ‘Caesar,’ it was fun,” said senior Jae Cook, who acted as Marah in “Caesar.” “There are a lot of comedic opportunities that have been opened up in Midsummer that were closed off in ‘Caesar.’”

Jae will portray Demetrius in the fall play.
“I love the scenes I have with other lovers and the drama that’s caused by who is in love with who,” said Jae.

OLTC will perform the show Nov. 16 through Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. A matineé will show on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets will be sold both online at gofan.co and at the door. Tickets will be sold to adults for $8 and to students for $7.

“Even if you’re worried about not knowing every word, you should still come because it is probably a lot more palatable than you think,” said Jae.