A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 2
at Lake Braddock Secondary School

Reviewed on May 1, 2021

Caitlin Hollen
St. Paul VI Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

A traveler wandering down a path into the mystical forest built by Lake Braddock's A Midsummer Night's Dream: Act II would stumble across more than a story of drama and intrigue; by peering around vines of ivy and stepping over winding roots, they would find a production of exceptional storytelling and remarkable technical elements. Lake Braddock High School took the Shakespearean classic and embellished it with modern features, not shying away from the context of the pandemic by setting the show in New York City during the year 2020. Beginning with The Rude Mechanicals conducting a rehearsal over Zoom and continuing into a forest scene where Puck finds trouble with the other fairies, Act II was packed with excitement and mystery.

The Rude Mechanical ensemble started off Act II as strong as it could be with each actor being fully engaged in the scene and working together as a coordinated team. Especially notable of the group was Nikki Bottom, played by Riley Sheetz, who delivered their lines with enthusiasm and energy. The Rude Mechanicals ensured that the comedy aspect of A Midsummer Night's Dream was not forgotten, both through their character choices and physicality.

As the scene shifted to a forest setting, a spectacle of new characters took center stage. Throughout Act II, the entire cast maintained a full commitment to the demands of Shakespeare's scenes and never once gave the camera less than what they were capable of as talented actors. One of the major caveats of performing a Shakespearean production is the ease at which the audience can get lost in the complexities of the plot, however, the cast achieved the difficult task of making each word understandable and the story easy to follow. Even the limitations of a pre-recorded production were virtually absent as the cast played their emotions wonderfully to the camera, which closed the physical distance between their characters with emotional intensity.

Linus Brannam playing Oberon did not let the dark nature of his character put a shadow on his powerful acting capabilities. He delivered his lines with a natural flow and showcased an alluring charisma fitting for his character. Playing off his character was Puck, played by Lillie Rusch. Rusch was similarly animated and lit up each scene that she was in as a fantastic leader and protagonist. Another character dynamic occurred between Helena, played by Elizabeth Lavallee, and Hermia, played by Savannah Raeder. Both Lavallee and Raeder clearly conveyed the vigor of their arguments back and forth, and each managed their anger levels smoothly and with seamless transitions to each new emotion.

Nora Jacobson's costume design for each character was done incredibly well, as she paid attention to both the small details as well as the overarching themes of each character. Additionally, Jacobson stayed true to the core Shakespearean roots while taking some creative liberty to adapt the costumes to a modern setting. Each new character had a costume that not only perfectly matched their personality but enhanced their performance and the story as a whole.

Other technical elements were similarly done beautifully: Puck's eye makeup by Alex Odell stood out in each scene and all the sound components, done by Ant Mahnken and Jake Sizemore, were seamlessly edited into the production by Ethan Fell. The backdrop also enhanced the performance by creating an illuminating purple color scheme.

The traveler- or rather, audience member- that entered the woods containing the magic of Lake Braddock's A Midsummer Night's Dream exited the woods a changed person, but it was a journey they were excited to take again.

Justin Pokrant
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Places! Curtain-up! Donkey head! Wait- DONKEY HEAD? Yes, you heard that right! Lake Braddock Secondary School's exhilarating twist on A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II will have you up and out of your saddles- I mean seats.

Set in New York City during the pandemoniac summer of 2020, A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II is a modernized interpretation of the classic Shakespearean comedy. Following the story of four lovers bewitched by fairies, Act II opens in a rehearsal for a production of "Pyramus and Thisbe." Upon the return of Nikki Bottom, whose head had been transformed into that of a donkey, the rehearsal is abruptly terminated when the cast crumbles into a state of terrified disarray. Shortly thereafter, Titania confesses her potion-induced love for donkey-headed Nikki, and the audience is introduced to the plight of four complicated lovers entangled in a convoluted love triangle (or more fittingly, a love square).

Dating back 28 years, performing an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream that reflects pop culture trends every four years is a Lake Braddock staple. Determined to maintain the tradition, the cast and crew worked tirelessly from October to February developing a strategy to combat the limitations of the pandemic; the result: a masterfully crafted, cohesive performance that reflected profound ingenuity and determination. From the flawless work of the editors to the actors' spunky characterizations, the passion for the show was evident, as there was never a dull moment.

Orchestrating much of the plot's conflict, the interactions between Oberon (played by Linus Brannam) and Puck (played by Lillie Rusch) made for a hilariously dysfunctional relationship that transcended the barrier of isolated recordings. Maintaining believable dialogue between physically separated actors is no small feat, but the pair overcame this obstacle effortlessly. Brannam's natural delivery of the Shakespearean text helped illustrate the plot, and Rusch's animated physicality and fun-loving humor allowed her to fully embody her capricious character.

Despite their brief appearance in Act II, the entire ensemble named the "Rude Mechanicals," brought individuality to their characters; collectively, their diverse range of personalities reinforced the energetic and nonsensical nature of the show. Riley Sheetz's spirited portrayal of the overbearing Nikki Bottom paired with Gillian Oliver's matter-of-fact and deliberately frustrated portrayal of Petunia Quince fueled a comic contrast between the two conflicting counterparts.

While the actors were successful in establishing and conveying their characters, countless technical enhancements brought a tremendous depth to the performance. To film the show, the cast and crew utilized a hybrid approach; they seamlessly combined both virtually filmed (via Zoom) and individual in-person recordings to tell the story. Through their thoughtful use of sound effects to support the plot, Ant Mahnken maintained an unwavering audio quality, and paired with Jake Sizemore's brilliant underscoring, the two ensured that the audio did not overpower the performance. Similarly, Ethan Feil utilized overlapping videos to illustrate coinciding events, and his smooth transitions established a cohesive plot. The beautifully crafted backdrop, painted by Sungah Kong, brought life to the whimsical forest, and Nora Jacobson's costuming plus Alex Odell's makeup execution distinguished and reinforced the many unique characterizations.

Through the show's comprehensive construction and comedic storytelling, Lake Braddock Secondary School's dynamic rendition of A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II left the audience wondering if the four Athenians would ever find true love in the Big Apple. Until then, we are reminded that even amid hysterical chaos, "Jack shall have Jill. Naught shall go ill. The man shall have his mare again, and all shall be well."

Anastasia Leffas
St. Paul VI Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a classic play known by almost anyone who has read a book or attended a production. But what happens when you combine this shining Shakespearean staple with the necessity for social distancing and technology in a high school theater production? You get a stunning and enthralling piece of modern theater, that's what. Lake Braddock Secondary School's production of Act 2 of A Midsummer Night's Dream implemented well-utilized technological tools and worked with the current situation of social distancing to create a piece of art that upheld the beauty and complexity of traditional Shakespeare while also fully leaning into modern opportunities.

Throughout the second act of Shakespeare's work was chronicled in the continued misadventures of two couples of lovers: Hermia, Ly Sander, Helena, and D. Metrius. These lovers were lost in a confusion of betrayal, love, and loyalties in a forest riddled with mischievous fairies. However, before these lovers appeared and confronted each other, a group of amateur actors met to practice for a drama they were putting on and were caught unaware as a fairy turned one of their own into a donkey-headed monster. The lovers and fairies alike were swept up in the madness and magic that occurred in an enchanted forest during a midsummer's night.

This story, which is as fantastical and amusing as it sounds, was sprinkled with the real-life magic of the tech choices. The opening scene of the amateur mechanics was aptly chosen to take place over a zoom call, expanding the interactions between the characters in a relatable way. As the setting transitioned into live-filmed segments of the actors, the mystical student-made scenery, comprised of elaborate backdrops and sounds of chirping birds, allowed for transportation into the purple-light bathed world of the fairies and lovers. The individual clips of the actors speaking were woven together in an incredibly cohesive and seamless manner. The technical elements of the production added a much-sought-after "wow" factor to the already phenomenal performances.

The cast of this production all portrayed an overwhelming palpable portrayal of emotion and energy. Right from the get-go, actors such as Riley Sheetz and Josh Reiff, who portrayed Nikki Longbottom and Flute respectively, implemented beautifully over-dramatic and dynamic caricatures of the roles their characters were playing. Titania (Ella Fosse) and her fairy posse were sassy and elusive enough to convince all that they truly were magical creatures. The Fairy King Oberon (Linus Brannam) and Puck (Lillie Rusch), the two most mischievous and amusing characters, possessed enchanting energy and a captivating dynamic that transcended the screen. The four lovers, played by Maggie Edwards as a bold and deeply convincing Ly Sander, Elizabeth Lavallee as a tragic and enthralling Helena, Wilson Weingast as a cocky and compelling D. Metrius, and Savannah Raeder as a mystifying and heart-wrenching Hermia. All these lovers used their intense emotions and interaction to present the invitation to be drawn into the experience of their characters. The final accomplishment of all these praise-worthy actors was their ability to deeply express their scenes and dynamics despite the fact that they were filmed separately and woven into the scene together during editing. None of the emotion and story was lost in this process thanks to their brilliant depiction of the complex characters.

Ultimately, Lake Braddock Secondary School presented a praise-worthy, compelling, 21st century take on the phenomenal Shakespearean tale, implementing tech and lighting to enhance the brilliant emotive talent of their actors. The lasting impression is one of the possibilities that the magic of the story's fairies, as well as the magic of the production's quality, holds.

Katie Fleck
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

If you've so much as dipped a toe into the pool of classic theatre, you'll likely be familiar with A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of Shakespeare's most well-known works- but certainly no one has seen it performed quite like Lake Braddock Secondary's recent production. Complete with superb technical aspects and a charming, skilled cast, Act 2 of LBSS's A Midsummer Night's Dream does a perfect job of adding a spunky, modern twist on a traditional play.

This Shakespearian work unfolds in a world of fairies, magic, and, of course, complex love stories. Three separate narratives were followed and soon begin to entwine with each other- one involving two couples struggling to be together, another featuring the king and queen of the fairies having a quarrel, and the last showing a jolly, albeit amateur, band of performers preparing to entertain the duke at his wedding. Things take a turn for the worse as magic and mischief begin to wreak havoc on the lives of the characters involved.

While Lake Braddock Secondary's production was successful as a whole, individual aspects of the show must also be specifically commended. The virtual setting and social distance requirements are currently notorious obstacles for school theater departments, but Lake Braddock cleared them with grace, as the entire production was seamlessly put together. The solution of filming actors one at a time on stage proved to be an excellent decision, as the acting was not inhibited by masks, and actors were able to create believable interaction without their colleagues on stage.

Shakespeare plays are perhaps most infamous for being difficult to understand, but luckily for Lake Braddock's audience, a well-rehearsed cast, clear diction, and definite character choices made it easy. Notable were the performances of Savannah Raeder (Hermia) and Elizabeth Lavallee (Helena), who held friendly chemistry onstage and conveyed feelings of betrayal in contrasting gentle and shrill tones which made their characters easy to sympathize with. Another prominent performance was Lillie Rusch's (Puck). Her fussy, lovably devilish portrayal of Puck created comedic moments and added a light-hearted, almost childish energy to the stage.

Costuming and makeup are two technical aspects that can completely define how a character is perceived onstage. Costume designer Nora Jacobson and makeup designer Alex Odell used this to their advantage when creating distinct, eye-catching looks for each character. In particular, the earpiece prosthetics for Puck's design were extremely effective in giving him an elfin silhouette. Costumes were playfully used to create outfits modeled after current trends, including a goth-style outfit for Oberon's character, which added to the modern feeling of the production.

All things considered, the second act of Lake Braddock Secondary's A Midsummer Night's Dream was an incredible success, and the flawless technical aspects perfectly combined with the talent of the performers to create a truly magical show.

Julia Tucker
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Tensions run high in the dense, magical woods as Ly Sander frantically searches for her love: Helena. Unfortunately, Oberon's mischievous servant, Puck, unknowingly disobeyed Oberon's orders and spread the love potion on the wrong Athenian's eyes; As a result, Ly Sander abandons her true love--Hermia--in a love-potion-induced delirium for Helena. Lake Braddock Secondary School's boisterous production of A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II began in the thick of the action, as the misguided efforts of fairies threaten to ruin the lives of humans.

A Shakespeare classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream mixes elements of the mundane--actors rehearsing for a show, talk of weddings, and complicated relationships--with the whimsical and mischievous aspects of fairy politics. The show is near and dear to Lake Braddock Secondary School, as it is tradition (since 1992) to produce the show every four years. Despite concerns on how they could perform the show this year, Lake Braddock persevered and modernized their cherished production for COVID times.

This impressive undertaking of the production took five months to produce, and the result reflected all the love and energy put into it. Even without seeing the show's exposition, the cast's meticulous and purposeful delivery of the Shakespearian dialogue helped clarify the intricacies of the complicated plot; despite not acting in real-time together, the company infused their performance with energy that reinvigorated the centuries-old script.

The quarreling couples dominated the "screen time" of Act II. Savannah Raedar (Hermia) and Elizabeth Lavallee (Helena) revealed their characters' long and established friendship through the range of emotions they portrayed while fighting. Their counterparts Ly Sander and D. Metrius, played by Maggie Edwards and Wilson Weingast, matched Hermia and Helena's energy through the fight while also making conscious character decisions, like choosing to display anger without yelling.

Oberon and Puck's mischief brought the drama to this segment of the show. Linus Brannam's clear understanding of his character, Oberon, shone though as his fluid and animated movements illuminated the nuance of his lines. Lillie Rusch portrayed Oberon's impish fairy, Puck; Her sprightly acting made her character fun and exciting to watch, especially as she tricked D. Metrius and Ly Sander into wandering deeper into the woods. Finally, as the head of the hilarious Rude Mechanicals ensemble, Riley Sheetz utilized their energetic, spirited voice to solidify that Nikki Bottom was, in fact, a theatre kid.

The technical elements infused the show with magic. The enchanting backdrop painted by Sungah Kong created the mood of the magical woods, and Katie Brusseau's lighting design--defined by hues of purple--enhanced the set's colors. In addition, the costumes designed by Nora Jacobson reflected the modern setting of the show while also adorning the fairies with distinctly mythical clothing. Alex Odell adorned each sprite with otherworldly makeup: from Puck's horns to Oberon's colorful eyeshadow, the makeup characterized the magical nature of the fairies. Finally, of course, the production could not be complete without the impeccable sound quality (courtesy of Ant Mahnken), the complementary musical underscoring by Jake Sizemore, and the diligent editing by Ethan Feil.

As Puck dropped the love potion into Ly Sander's eyes, she knew she had it right this time. While Puck disappeared back into the night, she left everyone else left to wonder: what happens next? Lake Braddock Secondary School's spellbinding production of A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II left humans and fairies alike yearning for the show's next installment.

Brooke Hanser
Robinson Secondary School
Submitted for publication to The Bear Facts

Continuing their tradition of performing this play every four years, Lake Braddock Secondary School puts a new spin on A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act II). Taking place in the year 2020, this timeless classic gets a new life embracing our current pandemic experience.

In this excerpt from William Shakespeare's play, the Mechanicals are wrapping up their final play rehearsal, when suddenly a fairy, Puck, flies by and decides to cause a bit of mayhem. As chaos ensues, more fairies stumble upon some humans in the forest in the middle of a fight. Hoping to end the conflict, they try to confuse the humans, sending them all in different directions.

Despite the challenge of making Elizabethan dialogue accessible to modern English ears, the cast of Lake Braddock's A Midsummer Night's Dream handled the challenge flawlessly. The words rolled off their tongues, sounding natural, allowing the audience to focus on the dramatic nature of the moment rather than the interpretation of the dialogue. Oberon, played by Linus Brannam, was an outstanding example of this. Brannam never hesitated to make exuberant vocal shifts to highlight the emotional journey Oberon was on. It was clear that he had a deep understanding of the text and used that knowledge to truly become his character.

Although, this ability was not unique to Brannam. Puck, played by Lillie Rusch, and Ly Sander, played by Maggie Edwards, are two more examples of how magical Shakespeare's characters can be when embraced wholeheartedly. Rusch, playing the mischievous yet energetic fairy, lit up the room with her animated facial expressions. Edwards gracefully navigated arguments as Ly Sander, one of the only Humans in the bunch, was attempting to avoid the fairy's manipulative ways.

Because the play took place in a 2020-like world, the performance was half on Zoom and half in-person. The in-person set, designed by Sungah Kong, was a beautifully painted woodland scene. When combined with Katie Brusseau's purple lighting, this location created a mystical world, excellent for this classically enchanting story to take place. To connect this stunning forest to the world of a Zoom call took the talents of Ethan Feil and Ant Mahnken, the video and sound editors. Feil coordinated seamless transitions between scenes while Mahnken fused Jake Sizemore's original score into the show.

Due to Lake Braddock's commitment to this tradition, they were able to pull off this enduring piece with all of the magical spirits it deserved even in the most unprecedented of times.