A Midsummer Night's Dream
at St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Reviewed on October 18, 2013

Michael Reehl
La Habra High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Cappies review: "A Midsummer Nights Dream"
A dream night of theater at St. Margaret's

By MICHAEL REEHL
For the Orange County Register

Michael Reehl is a freshman at La Habra High School in La Habra.




What do you get when you combine the craziness of fairies with the elegance of a group of Athenians? The energetic and entertaining cast of St. Margaret's Episcopal School takes theatergoers through an enchanted journey of the timeless classic Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

In William Shakespeare's comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the combination of three worlds is revealed when a group of aristocratic Athenians run into a company of playful fairies that cast various spells onto the oblivious love-struck bunch. More chaos ensues with the appearance of the middle class performers, the Mechanicals.
The animated cast flies through the show with enthusiasm, exhibiting endless characterization that creates a variety of memorable characters uniquely interesting.

The dedicated Tyler Ashman plays the mysterious Puck, a spirited fairy who captivates the audience with his intriguing characteristics. Ashman generates excitement from the audience with his ability to cause commotion between the lovers by shouting their names or tapping them on the shoulder without ever being seen by the Athenians.

Helena is played by the commanding Shelby Nicholas who receives complete attention from the audience whenever she comes on the stage. Her complete control and understanding of the Shakespearian text, while delivering her asides, makes it easy for the audience to comprehend the play.
Entering the stage with complete presence and focus, the comedic Brandon Henry plays Snug, an amusing character in the Mechanicals. Without having many lines, Henry brings the show to life with his outstanding use of physicality.

Dancing exquisitely across the stage, the fairies enchant the audience with their stunning dancing ability. As they glide across the theater they enhance the magic of the entire performance.
At times, the cast's line delivery was a bit forced; they made up for it in their ability to stay in character at the most crucial moments of the performance.

With vibrant colors, exciting use of natural elements, and unique detail of the mystical make-up designs added to the element of enchantment throughout the entire production. Nathalie Eidt, Olivia Keane, Phoebe Miller, and Alexis Salcido bring the show to life with their exceptional make-up designs.

From a chaotic adventure to a love binding ending St. Margaret's provides the audience with a dream night at the theater in this amazing production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Sean Soper
Mater Dei High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Cappies review: "A Midsummer Nights Dream"
Nobody Wants To Wake Up From St. Margaret's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"


By SEAN SOPER
For the Orange County Register

Sean Soper is a Junior at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana.


The cast of St. Margaret's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" takes the audience by storm with it's provocative storytelling, humorous ensembles, and classical, complex Shakespearian relationships. This terrific revival of one of Shakespeare's greatest works exceeds expectations and excels beyond normal high school theatre standards.

Led by Tyler Ashman and Morgan Higgins, playing Puck and Hermia, respectively, this playful production takes the audience to a new level of entertainment and pleasure. Ashman brings a mischievous nature to his role, as he humorously plays off other characters in the show exceptionally well. He has unparalleled stage presence, which is instantly seen in his body movements and posture. Higgins, too, commands the stage from her first appearance with elegance and beauty.

While some of the transitions between scenes are long in Act I, many of the actors pick up on their cues in such a way that it preserves the flow of the show. Of these, Brent Cahill, playing the role of Oberon, king of the Fairies, keeps the audience captivated with his astounding stage presence and impeccable diction. Likewise, Brooks Robinson goes above and beyond in his portrayal of Demetrius through his exemplary understanding and execution of the often times difficult Shakespearian language.

One notable feature that has the audience astounded from the opening curtain is the hair and makeup of every single actor. Lead by Nathalie Eidt, Olivia Keane, Phoebe Miller, and Alexis Salcido, it is evident that extra time and care is put into making each and every character stand out, especially in the Fairy ensemble.

While Titania's Fairies are a stunning group filled with mystery and lust, it is the Mechanicals that essentially steal the show. Their playful games and comical play that they rehearse and eventually perform for a royal audience has everyone roaring with laughter. One mechanical in particular, Tom Snout, played by Zachary Collins, brings smiles to the faces of every audience member when he plays the part of "The Wall" in their play about Pyramus and Thisbe. Collins' facial expressions and comedic timing help with the overall success of his scenes.

As Puck challenges the audience to wonder if they "have but slumber'd here while these visions did appear", one can only hope that this production is a dream they will never have to wake up from.

Hannah Betz
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Cappies review: "A Midsummer Nights Dream"
Nobody Wants To Wake Up From St. Margaret's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"


By HANNAH BETZ
For the OC Cappies Facebook

Hannah Betz is a Senior at Tesoro High School in Las Flores.



Tricks of enchantment abound at St. Margaret's

Fantastical fairies and their meddlesome antics create dreadful schemes as hilarity ensues in St. Margaret's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

As the fate of four lovers is thrust into the faulty hands of a mischievous fairy Puck, he orchestrates a calamity of the utmost confusion, revealing spellbound passion and artificial desire. True love's fate becomes evident in this ill-constructed labyrinth of convoluted misunderstandings.

Tyler Ashman as Puck immediately draws focus as he flings himself about the stage playfully, exuding a nymph-like energy, while maintaining his sneaky crouch. His enigmatic inflection presents him as an anchoring storyteller, while his child-like persona perceives him as a trickster whose presence is never truly absent.

Liam McGregor (Lysander) and Brooks Robinson (Demetrius) play off of each other's humorous gestures effortlessly. Constantly attempting to one-up each other as they vie for Helena's (Shelby Nicholas) attention, the pair remain comically in sync with facial expressions and physicality that evokes uproarious laughter.

Morgan Higgins as Hermia lets her innate femininity flow through her performance. She utilizes a gentle and sweet tone in her more earnest scenes, in contrast to her brassy shrieks as she leaps onto to Helena's back and continues to claw and pull at her hair during the hilarious showdown.

Sarah Grace Engel (Titania) and Brent Cahill (Oberon) command the stage with their power couple presence, portraying their overall domination in the fairy world. Cahill's masculine physique and deep vocal timbre distinctly characterize him as the ultimate ruler. Engel exudes confidence in her graceful strut while her gentle tone of assertiveness depict her as the embodiment of seduction. Her entourage of fairies elegantly leap and twirl across the stage creating an ethereal effect throughout the production.

The Mechanicals ensemble induce bursts of laughter as they perform the historically renown death scene of Pyramus and Thisbe. Branden Henry (Snug) spurs roars of laughter as a clueless, nonchalant lion with a dramatically subpar growl. David Larsen as Flute evokes the same laughter as he flies into his upper register to ooze femininity as Thisbe, the doomed lover of Pyramus. Joshua Nallathambi (Bottom) as Pyramus produces a comical performance, stabbing himself repeatedly, portraying an unrealistic death and casually explaining his motivations to the wedding party. Zachary Collins (Snout) draws complete attention with his lively presence and constantly jovial expression.

St. Margaret's provides an abundance of light-hearted comedy as mystical misfortune is mended.