A Midsummer Night's Dream
at James Madison High School

Reviewed on November 16, 2019

Julianne Cuevo
Flint Hill School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

In the magical forest outside Athens, mischief is afoot. Love will turn to hate, hate will turn to love, and for one night, fantasy will reign over reality. The students of James Madison High School immersed audiences in the fanciful realm of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

One of Shakespeare's most famous works, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was written in 1595. The play's many opportunities for both drama and comedy make it a favorite of theatergoers worldwide. It follows Oberon and Titania, estranged king and queen of the fairies, whose lives become intertwined with those of the Athenian humans. Through magic, Oberon and his servant, Puck, cause chaos for four youths looking for love and a bumbling group of Mechanicals trying to put on a play. While performing Shakespeare can sometimes be difficult because of the archaic language, all the actors were equipped for the challenge. They clearly understood their lines and conveyed to the audience the meaning behind the complex words.

Elenora Fiel (Hermia), Nick Hovis (Demetrius), Logan Neville (Lysander), and Jordan Roller (Helena) played the four young lovers with sincerity and innocence. They all had palpable chemistry with one another, even when the directions of their love square were switched around by Oberon's magic. During that pivotal scene, each actor showcased impressive emotional depth. Neville was very successful as Lysander. His shift from love for Hermia to infatuation with Helena was dramatic and believable, and he remained interesting to watch throughout the performance.

The Rude Mechanicals, played by Charlie Arase, Will Bush, Kyler Neville, Ash Rauch, Adam Sieff, and Spencer Todd, stood out as an audience favorite. From their first appearance in the show to their final bows at curtain call, they were outrageously funny. Charlie Arase (Nick Bottom) was especially hilarious; his over-the-top physicality matched the larger-than-life quality of his character, and he emphasized the instances of Shakespeare's clever wordplay that add so much to the comic nature of the play. He stole the show whenever he was onstage, whether as an actor in the play-within-a-play, or as the donkey-eared object of Titania's affection. In addition, Kyler Neville had a great performance as Flute. His portrayal of Thisbe in the play-within-a-play was terrifically funny as he struggled to speak in a high falsetto, but it was also especially moving. His poignant emotion while giving Thisbe's final monologue was a strong choice and demonstrated his multifaceted talent as an actor.

Technical elements maximized the show's success, further enveloping the audience in the play's mystical atmosphere. The set was gorgeous: complete with a life-size tree, a huge flowered stump, two offstage platforms, and two leafy spiral staircases, the set successfully transformed the stage into the magical woods. Designed by Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, and John Lande, it was a sight to behold and a definite highlight of the production. Hair, makeup (Maria Christou), and costumes (Lauren Bretl) were also very effective. With identical leotards and ethereal, shimmering makeup, the fairy ensemble looked cohesive and enchanting.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" ends with Puck's asking the audience to clap for the actors. But at James Madison High School's remarkable production, the audience was already applauding well before Puck's entreaty. Skilled performances and technical accomplishments made this show whimsical and fun filled. Certainly, it was a dream to remember.

Grace Tarpgaard
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Shakespeare's famous world of love, magic, and fairy dust came to a life in James Madison High School's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The Shakespearean comedy was written in the late 1500's, and it is set in an enchanted forest where four different storylines interconnect. With love charms, a play-within-a-play, and feuding fairies, the show entails constant comedy and stunning visuals that have left audiences in awe for 400 years and counting. James Madison captured this light-hearted comedy brilliantly with the use of slapstick humor and excellent delivery, perfectly complimenting their fairytale-esque set and costumes.

Leads Lysander (Logan Neville) and Helena (Jordan Roller) shined as half of "The Lovers" quartet. Neville's impeccable diction and seamless character development showed his depth of understanding of the character and language. The intention evident behind every line added a whole new level to his already lovable character. Roller showed a similar understanding in her roll of Helena with multiple lengthy monologues and a dynamic range of emotion.

Comic reliefs Nick Bottom (Charlie Arase) and Puck (Celeste Phillips) had audiences laughing out loud with their over-the-top expressions and incredible use of physical humor. Arase's performance with the fairies was absolutely hilarious and his role as "Pyramus" in the play-within-a-play, along with his fellow members of "The Mechanicals" (Will Bush, Kyler Neville, Ash Rauch, Adam Sieff, and Spencer Todd), captured the ridiculousness that his character entails. Phillips held her own as the mischievous Puck, complimenting her master Oberon (Ben Eggleston) while also shining individually. Her stage presence was captivating, especially in scenes with "The Lovers" where she nimbly navigated the various love charms she had bestowed upon them.

However, the show would not be complete without the outstanding set and costumes that amplified the show's magic. Sets by Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, and John Lande showed incredible attention to detail with virtually every inch of the stage covered in vines and flowers. Additionally, the set utilized the space excellently by placing platforms in the first few rows of the audience and providing levels onstage. Costumes by Lauren Bretl matched the enchanted mood of the set with fairies decked out in sparkles and "The Lovers" in traditional Shakespearean garments. The cohesiveness of each ensemble was also reinforced by the costume choices, making for a brilliant stage picture all around.

James Madison High School's performance of the classic "A Midsummer Night's Dream" flawlessly navigated the challenges posed by multiple intertwining storylines with intention and grace. Technical aspects such as sets and costumes brought the show to life with the use of mythological forest elements and lots of sparkles. The hard work and dedication put into the production was evident and audiences were loving every second of the journey through the magnificent world of young love and magical creatures that has become beloved by so many across the world.

Natalie Tubia
Herndon High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

A pleasantly unhinged display of the intertwined story lines of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" ensues in the whimsical forest of James Madison High School. The Bard's language is no simple task, but with a flawless execution of Shakespeare's prose and verse, the characters of this perplexing tale were evidently filled to the brim with wit and joy.

Despite being written in 1595, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been entertaining audiences for hundreds of years with countless adaptations, and James Madison High School's production serves as no exception. When Egeus reprimands his daughter Hermia's love for Lysander and tells her she is to marry Demetrius, the two lovers run away to the forest in secret. Helena, who desperately loves Demetrius, informs him of Hermia's departure in hopes to earn his love, but to no avail. However, with the mischief of a forest fairy by the name Puck, the paths of the four lovers fall awry with the love potion of a flower shot by cupid's arrow.

Logan Neville's performance as the charmingly romantic Lysander was met with an unblemished understanding and execution of the words of Shakespeare's iambic pentameter. He effectively presented Lysander's bounteous love for Hermia (Elenora Fiel) with gentle grace and later went on to believably and hilariously showcase his newfound love for Helena (Jordan Roller) after Puck (Celeste Phillips) charms him with the love potion. Not only did Roller's commitment to Helena's sorrow over her unrequited love of Demetrius (Nick Hovis) remain consistent, but she was also exemplary in demonstrating her utmost confusion and anger when the feelings of Lysander and Demetrius fall amiss towards her. The four lovers undoubtedly provided their audience with hilarious banter as they quarreled and shrieked about their inconvenient situation.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" finds itself with a subplot in The Rude Mechanicals. Highlighted by the undoubtedly impeccable comedic timing and commitment of Charlie Arase as Nick Bottom, the Mechanicals guided the audience along on a hilarious journey as they rehearsed and performed their production of "Pyramus and Thisbe." Having showcased an endless amount of physicality and quick-witted humor, there truly was never a dull moment.

The set (Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, John Lande) flawlessly transported the audience from an auditorium to the magical forest of Athens. With Oberon's (Ben Eggleston) massive tree with a winding staircase covered in green leaves and Titania's (Stella Monner) wooden bed drenched in colorful flowers, the set crew's intensive attention to detail created a spotless atmosphere that immersed the audience in every aspect of the performance.

Serving as a hysterical and light-hearted indication of how the magic of the world can work in mysterious ways, James Madison High School's production of "A Midsummer Nights Dream" is euphoric, enabling the joyful shenanigans of the youngster inside of us. These "mortals" might not be such fools after all!

Katie Howard
Rock Ridge High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

"The course of true love never did run smooth," but James Madison High School's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" did run smoothly at that!

William Shakespeare's classic "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was originally written in 1595, the same year the equally astonishing "Romeo and Juliet" was written. This whimsical comedy follows the satirical nature of four lovers, a curiously meddling servant named Puck, a royally engaging King and Queen of the fairies, and a group of regular guys who just want to put on a play. The task of performing a Shakespeare is a daunting one, but the company at MAD Players did not shy away from the challenge, using space and physicality to convey this hilariously complicated comedy.

When the audience first enters the space, they are transported to the world of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with talented set design (Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, and John Lande). The massive tree structures flanking the proscenium exude great detail and skill, representing on one side Oberon's green leafy style, and on the other side Titania's pink and flowery garb. The twirling stairs give movement and levels that the director and actors have to work with to create an active playing space. Along with these levels onstage, two skillfully used platforms in the audience created a three-dimensional feel to the play, bringing the audience into the world of the play.

From start to finish, The Lovers captured the audience with their undeniable chemistry and witty physical connections. Logan Neville (Lysander) showcased a broad range of acting abilities, shifting from loving Hermia to Helena through a hilarious use of physical comedy. His abilities were backed up by his scene partner Elenora Fiel (Hermia), who truly embodied the idea that "though she be but little, she is fierce!" Although their relationship got off to a rocky start, Nick Hovis (Demetrius) and Jordan Roller (Helena) skillfully used levels of intensity and comedy to create a dynamic couple.

On the other side of Athens, five commoners had the audience laughing in their seats as these goofballs simply try and make a play they can present to the royal family. A standout in this ensemble was Charlie Arase (Nick Bottom/Pyramus) who captured the audience with his booming personality and keen understanding of the witty comedy that the text allowed. His scene partners did not shy away from the comedy either, telling a final play within a play with full dedication to the whimsy of the story.

In a wood near Athens, the magical side of the play came into full force. Stella Monner (Titania) and Ben Eggleston (Oberon) played the king and queen beautifully, capturing the magic and spunk of the fairies. These two had undeniable chemistry, and balance one another with grace and skill. Alongside them, The Fairies told story through beautiful dancing and physicality. As these Fairies passed through the audience, their extremely detailed and skillfully applied makeup and hair (Maria Christou) was noted.

As well as skillfully done makeup, the costumes of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" aided in telling the complicated story. Lauren Bretl created cohesive looks among the different ensembles that clearly defined roles in the story, all while giving each character their own identity. The glorious ballet choreography, led by Isabelle Centola, used the space of the set design to capture the audience through its movement of story. Most notably, one of fairy dances was supported by the amazing student-composed song by Renee Erickson, which showed great skill and collaboration among crew chiefs.

All in all, Madison Drama honored the work of the great William Shakespeare with much skill and whimsy, putting on an unforgettable production for all audiences.

Cecily Rood
Herndon High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

What could be better than watching a classic tale of a warm summer's night on a chilly winter's day? Enchanting fairies and sprites mingle with mortals in a magical performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at James Madison High School, where cast and crew transformed their stage into a mysterious forest filled with enchanted creatures. Through the talented cast and hard work of the tech crew, this fantastical and timeless story was a delight for audiences of all ages.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a 5-act comedy written by William Shakespeare in 1595 which follows the love quadrilateral of four young lovers as their relationships are tangled and complicated with love spells cast by the fairies who inhabit the forest. The show also hilariously follows the manipulation of six amateur actors in their performance of "Pyramus and Thisbe." Overall, this comedic show has no dark underlying theme (as some of Shakespeare's other plays do), and the cast of James Madison wonderfully and whimsically hooked the audience in for an entertaining and carefree performance full of laughs and spirit, just as the playwright intended.

Logan Neville, as the gallant and love struck Lysander, was mature and had incredible comedic timing; it was subtle yet effective, proving the phrase "less is more" absolutely true. His dynamic with Nick Hovis as Demetrius (the opposing lover) was believable and genuine. Celeste Phillips as the mischievous sprite Puck drew the audience in with her overflowing energy and A+ facial expressions. Even characters with walk-ons provided energy that was felt throughout the theatre, and every face was engaged and prepared to give their all to the performance, which added to the magic of the show!

With a show like "Midsummer," extraordinary costumes are necessary to transport the audience to the magical world of fairies, and Maria Christou (make-up) and Lauren Bretl (costumes) executed it extremely well. The beautiful costumes for both the fairies and the humans obviously had a lot of thought and hard work put into them, and it came together on stage perfectly. While the humans wore costumes that were historically accurate, the inhabitants of the fairy kingdom wore whimsical gowns of pink and purple draped in flowers, and outfits of vines and leaves. Prosthetic ears and sparkly face paint for the fairies added the perfect touch of magic!

The set (designed by Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, and John Lande) also played a large role in the transportation between worlds, with a large stone and vine wall allowing the actors to go on different levels, creating a more dynamic image for the audience. Lighting and sound were particularly good as well; the lighting created a great atmosphere for each scene without being over the top, and the sound quality was almost impeccable, especially for a high school performance. Overall, it's clear that the cast and tech crew for "Midsummer" worked extremely hard (and succeeded) to create a warm and whimsical atmosphere for the audience, and that didn't go unnoticed. From mortal to magic and Midsummer to Madison, the cast and crew of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" really cast a spell on us all!

Meena Megahed
Herndon High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Magic spells, complicated love quadrilaterals, and an abundance of fairies...that can only mean one thing: the timeless "A Midsummer Night's Dream!" Written by William Shakespeare in 1595, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a classic tale following four young lovers and their jumbled love stories, all controlled by mystical forest fairies. Add in the journey of a group of whimsical players struggling to put on a performance of "Pyramus and Thisbe," and this show delivers nothing short of comical plot twists and lovable characters that the cast wholeheartedly portrays.

Playing the character of Lysander with the charm it demands, Logan Neville was particularly memorable. Gracing the stage with his charismatic and romantic nature, Neville earned plentiful laughs from the audience with his comedic timing and humorous mannerisms. Nick Hovis perfected the contrast of his character as Demetrius; Hovis was able to create a somewhat "lovable" dynamic between Lysander and himself, and whether they were fighting over Helena, or just fighting in general, the pair brought an admirable love-hate relationship to the stage. Nick Bottom, portrayed by Charlie Arase, brought the house down with his slapstick humor, his hilarious actions heightened by his perfectly delivered lines and natural chemistry with The Rude Mechanicals. The Rude Mechanicals (played by Arase, Will Bush, Kyler Neville, Ash Rauch, Adam Sieff, and Spencer Todd) used their comical physicality and close bond with each other to deliver a memorable rendition of "Pyramus and Thisbe." Other performers who delivered stellar performances included Helena, played by Jordan Roller. Roller performed the role beautifully and delivered all her lines with a lovable confidence that made the dialogue thoroughly comprehensible. Ben Eggleston (Oberon) and Celeste Phillips (Puck) entertained the audience with their amusing back-and-forths and a consistent dynamic that never lost energy.

The professional tech aspects that James Madison executed were not only incredibly beautiful, but also made you feel as though you were prancing around the forest with magical fairies. Designed by Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, and John Lande, the realistic set stretching across the ceiling and walls of the theatre created an immersive experience for the audience. Lauren Bretl's costume design contributed to each character's persona. The different ensemble groups uniformity was aesthetically pleasing and delivered a clear understanding of the differences of each group in the show.

Shakespeare is never easy to accomplish, but through smooth dialogue, an incredible set, beautiful costumes, and most importantly, a phenomenal cast and crew, James Madison pulled it off seamlessly!

Lena Weiman
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Fairies meddle in the world of mortals, four lovers fight the world and each other for love, a play within a play is performed, and a man turns into a donkey. All this and more come to life in James Madison High School's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was written by the iconic playwright William Shakespeare in 1596. The play surrounds the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and his betrothed, Hippolyta, as they prepare for their wedding, but it also follows four lovers, Hermia, Demitrius, Lysander, and Helena, and The Rude Mechanicals, a group of actors preparing a play for the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. At the same time, the fairies who live in the forest meddle with the lives of the humans in the play. A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies, and James Madison took the challenge head on.

The lovers -- Elenora Fiel as Hermia, Nick Hovis as Demetrius, Logan Neville as Lysander, and Jordan Roller as Helena -- were a dynamic group. Every scene with any part of their love quadrangle was a joy to watch. Neville and Fiel had amazing chemistry, and Neville's switch from loving her to loving Roller was executed perfectly. The whole group was both dramatic and comedic through commitment to their characters.

The Rude Mechanicals, with Charlie Arase as Nick Bottom, Will Bush as Snug the Joiner, Kyler Neville as Flute, Ash Rauch as Snout, Adam Sieff as Starveling, and Spencer Todd as Peter Quince, were a lively ensemble. Their wonderful physical comedy and comedic timing made their scenes, and the play within a play, absolutely hilarious. Charlie Arase as Nick Bottom stole the show with his outrageous vocal and physical acting.

The dynamic duo of Celeste Phillips as Puck and Ben Eggleston as Oberon was mischievous and comical. Their scheming and meddling was a perfect addition to Shakespeare's classic comedy.

The choreography by Isabelle Centola was beautiful and well done. The fairy ensemble dances were ethereal and clearly well rehearsed, adding to the whimsical forest scenes.

The technical aspects of the show were aesthetically amazing. The set, by Renee Erickson, Casey Deege, and John Lande, was beautiful and immersive. It brought the audience into the forest, with huge tree stumps serving as platforms for the actors to inhabit. Makeup and costumes, done by Maria Christou and Lauren Bretl respectively, were well done. The makeup and costumes of the fairies in particular were whimsical and detailed. The pink and delicate makeup and costumes of the fairy ensemble contrasted nicely with the green and earthy designs for Puck and Oberon.

Overall, the show was creative and well executed. The whole cast made Shakespeare's daunting language easy and accessible through clear acting and dedication to characters. The play was both hilarious and poignant, a perfect blend of romance and comedy.