A Midsummer Night's Dream
at University High School

Reviewed on November 22, 2013

Amilcar Jauregui
Anaheim High
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Fairy Tales Made Real at University High School

University High Schools' take on William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a whimsical journey full of wacky characters and gratifying moments that cause the audience to fill the intimate space with their laughter.

This classic play follows the eccentric trials of three parallel stories: the love rectangle between the young Athenians in the royal palace, the acrobatic faeries and mischievous wood nymphs in the mystical forest world, and the rugged group of mechanicals in the streets of Athens. All goes astray when forces beyond the shrouding haze use the manipulative powers of the wilderness to concoct a hilarious blunder.

Scenic lighting by William Dang works effectively well with the special effects from the strobe lights, and fog to create the eerie, remote woods.

Sound design by Casey Cunningham and Ally Kaufman adds an enchanting effect to the show. The use of mystical chimes to accompany Oberon's (Darius Estigoy) swish of the magical flowers is spellbinding. Sound is also used to enhance the ambiance for the various scenes. The cacophony of voices in the background for the streets depicts a very animated area.

Standing tall against the Athenian laws for the sake of love is the charming Lysander, played by Alberto Silva. Throughout the show, Silva's gentle tone of voice and caressing gestures is effective in developing chemistry between himself and his love, Hermia, played by Megan Tran. Their growing relationship sets up the comedy when Lysander, under the effect of the love potion, is ignoring the hysterical Hermia due to his intoxicating love toward Helena, played by Alexandra Kramer. Silva creates a memorable character with his bold gestures and excellent stage presence that gets the audience to root for him.

Walking pompously amid the busy streets of Athens is the zealous, overconfident; Bottom the Weaver, played by Sami Lodi. Lodi amazes the audience with his excellent comedic timing and animated facial expressions. Although some of the performers lack diction for some of their unique inflections, Lodi is clearly understood within the gut-busting, production of Pyramus and Thisbe.

University High School's production effectively crosses the bridge from the human world to the whimsical world of faeries. This is one dream you will not want to wake up from.

Amilcar Jauregui
Anaheim High
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Fairy Tales Made Real at University High School

University High Schools' take on William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a whimsical journey full of wacky characters and gratifying moments that cause the audience to fill the intimate space with their laughter.

This classic play follows the eccentric trials of three parallel stories: the love rectangle between the young Athenians in the royal palace, the acrobatic faeries and mischievous wood nymphs in the mystical forest world, and the rugged group of mechanicals in the streets of Athens. All goes astray when forces beyond the shrouding haze use the manipulative powers of the wilderness to concoct a hilarious blunder.

Scenic lighting by William Dang works effectively well with the special effects from the strobe lights, and fog to create the eerie, remote woods.

Sound design by Casey Cunningham and Ally Kaufman adds an enchanting effect to the show. The use of mystical chimes to accompany Oberon's (Darius Estigoy) swish of the magical flowers is spellbinding. Sound is also used to enhance the ambiance for the various scenes. The cacophony of voices in the background for the streets depicts a very animated area.

Standing tall against the Athenian laws for the sake of love is the charming Lysander, played by Alberto Silva. Throughout the show, Silva's gentle tone of voice and caressing gestures is effective in developing chemistry between himself and his love, Hermia, played by Megan Tran. Their growing relationship sets up the comedy when Lysander, under the effect of the love potion, is ignoring the hysterical Hermia due to his intoxicating love toward Helena, played by Alexandra Kramer. Silva creates a memorable character with his bold gestures and excellent stage presence that gets the audience to root for him.

Walking pompously amid the busy streets of Athens is the zealous, overconfident; Bottom the Weaver, played by Sami Lodi. Lodi amazes the audience with his excellent comedic timing and animated facial expressions. Although some of the performers lack diction for some of their unique inflections, Lodi is clearly understood within the gut-busting, production of Pyramus and Thisbe.

University High School's production effectively crosses the bridge from the human world to the whimsical world of faeries. This is one dream you will not want to wake up from.

Maya Greenfield-Thong
Fountain Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

University High has A Midsummer Night's Dream

When reality and the faerie world collide in University High School's production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," hilarity ensues. Men are transformed into animals, nymph trickery abounds, and love is lost and found in a hilarious twist of events.

The lives of four young Athenian lovers take a turn for the strange, when Puck, a mischievous nymph, and her master—Oberon, King of the Wood Nymphs—play matchmaker. While Puck's plans go awry, in another part of the forest Titania—Queen of the Faeries—becomes enamored with a donkey, a magically transformed theatre troupe actor.

Helena, the outcast of the four young lovers, is skillfully portrayed by Alexandra Kramer. It is easy to see her emotional transformation from a self-deprecating girl to a confident young lady who sourly ridicules Hermia, angrily tearing at her dress. Even during this fight, Helena manages to keep an air of dignified disbelief as two new suitors try to win her heart.

With an impish grin and playful attitude, Melissa Calica radiates the entertaining and comical personality of Puck. Clutching a magical flower for King Oberon, she teeters down the isle and tumbles onto the stage, providing comic relief while emphasizing her ineptness as a matchmaker. This humorous side of her personality is a stark contrast to her enigmatic disposition and the sly tricks she plays.

Bottom the Weaver, played by Sami Lodi, is one of the roving actors practicing in the woods. With a boisterous and flamboyant personality, he stars in the production of "Pyramus and Thisbe" put on in honor the Duke of Athens' wedding. With over-exaggerated movements and animated facial expressions, he and his fellow actor—the Bellows Mender who plays Thisbe—leaves the audience roaring with laughter.

Keeping with the Elizabethan tradition of a simple stage, William Dang's skilful lighting transforms the play into something mystical. Using gobos, he creates the illusion of storm clouds and dappled light streaming through trees. His creative use of metallic-colored umbrellas and LED flowers also create a unique effect that spellbinds the audience.

With a knowing grin, Puck's parting words make the audience wonder if this incredible story wasn't just a midsummer night's dream, after all.

Maya Greenfield-Thong
Fountain Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

University High has A Midsummer Night's Dream

When reality and the faerie world collide in University High School's production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," hilarity ensues. Men are transformed into animals, nymph trickery abounds, and love is lost and found in a hilarious twist of events.

The lives of four young Athenian lovers take a turn for the strange, when Puck, a mischievous nymph, and her master—Oberon, King of the Wood Nymphs—play matchmaker. While Puck's plans go awry, in another part of the forest Titania—Queen of the Faeries—becomes enamored with a donkey, a magically transformed theatre troupe actor.

Helena, the outcast of the four young lovers, is skillfully portrayed by Alexandra Kramer. It is easy to see her emotional transformation from a self-deprecating girl to a confident young lady who sourly ridicules Hermia, angrily tearing at her dress. Even during this fight, Helena manages to keep an air of dignified disbelief as two new suitors try to win her heart.

With an impish grin and playful attitude, Melissa Calica radiates the entertaining and comical personality of Puck. Clutching a magical flower for King Oberon, she teeters down the isle and tumbles onto the stage, providing comic relief while emphasizing her ineptness as a matchmaker. This humorous side of her personality is a stark contrast to her enigmatic disposition and the sly tricks she plays.

Bottom the Weaver, played by Sami Lodi, is one of the roving actors practicing in the woods. With a boisterous and flamboyant personality, he stars in the production of "Pyramus and Thisbe" put on in honor the Duke of Athens' wedding. With over-exaggerated movements and animated facial expressions, he and his fellow actor—the Bellows Mender who plays Thisbe—leaves the audience roaring with laughter.

Keeping with the Elizabethan tradition of a simple stage, William Dang's skilful lighting transforms the play into something mystical. Using gobos, he creates the illusion of storm clouds and dappled light streaming through trees. His creative use of metallic-colored umbrellas and LED flowers also create a unique effect that spellbinds the audience.

With a knowing grin, Puck's parting words make the audience wonder if this incredible story wasn't just a midsummer night's dream, after all.

Namrata Pujara
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

A Midsummer Night's Dream at University High School

University High School's fall play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", seizes the audience's attention with its humorous lines and expressive characters.

This play consists of three parallel stories that are linked together by the recent marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. Throughout the play, the Athenians' faces changes in their emotions due to the faeries applying a magical potion to the sleeping men. The king and queen of the faeries bicker because of their dispute over the future of the queen's child. At the same time, Patrice Quince assigns her mechanicals parts for the play "Pyramus and Thisbe", to celebrate the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta.

The queen, Titania (Yamini Nambimadon), commands the stage with her expressive movements and appropriately dramatic personality. As she glides across the stage elegantly, clad in her glittery gold dress, it is apparent that she is the queen. Her faeries match her grace with their beautiful flips across the stage in their dancers' dresses. Their makeup is flawless with the glittery wisps of face paint across their cheeks and the bright colors of lipstick and eyeshadow.

While preparing for the play, Pyramus (Sami Lodi) is over excited and anxious to perform for the Duke of Athens (Hesam Modaresi Sar Yadzi) and Queen of the Amazon (Catalina Fernandez). Pyramus provides comedic relief to the show with his quirky and over dramatic personality. In contrast, Patrice Quince's (Megan McCarthy) seriousness adds to the humor between her and Pyramus. Their bantering allows the audience to understand the difference in their personalities. Although some characters' lines were hard to hear, their gestures and interactions with other characters made up for it.

The original sound effects created by Casey Cunningham and Ally Kaufman added a mystical feeling to several parts of the play such as the faerie scenes in the forest with the potions.

Overall, this production captures the true meaning of Shakespeare and provides and authentic but creative approach to a classic play.

Namrata Pujara
Northwood High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

A Midsummer Night's Dream at University High School

University High School's fall play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", seizes the audience's attention with its humorous lines and expressive characters.

This play consists of three parallel stories that are linked together by the recent marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. Throughout the play, the Athenians' faces changes in their emotions due to the faeries applying a magical potion to the sleeping men. The king and queen of the faeries bicker because of their dispute over the future of the queen's child. At the same time, Patrice Quince assigns her mechanicals parts for the play "Pyramus and Thisbe", to celebrate the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta.

The queen, Titania (Yamini Nambimadon), commands the stage with her expressive movements and appropriately dramatic personality. As she glides across the stage elegantly, clad in her glittery gold dress, it is apparent that she is the queen. Her faeries match her grace with their beautiful flips across the stage in their dancers' dresses. Their makeup is flawless with the glittery wisps of face paint across their cheeks and the bright colors of lipstick and eyeshadow.

While preparing for the play, Pyramus (Sami Lodi) is over excited and anxious to perform for the Duke of Athens (Hesam Modaresi Sar Yadzi) and Queen of the Amazon (Catalina Fernandez). Pyramus provides comedic relief to the show with his quirky and over dramatic personality. In contrast, Patrice Quince's (Megan McCarthy) seriousness adds to the humor between her and Pyramus. Their bantering allows the audience to understand the difference in their personalities. Although some characters' lines were hard to hear, their gestures and interactions with other characters made up for it.

The original sound effects created by Casey Cunningham and Ally Kaufman added a mystical feeling to several parts of the play such as the faerie scenes in the forest with the potions.

Overall, this production captures the true meaning of Shakespeare and provides and authentic but creative approach to a classic play.