One of the most popular and enduring of Shakespeare's comedies, A Midsummer's Night Dream invites the audience into three distinct spheres: An enchanted forest led by Oberon and Titania, a noble court in Athens where two sets of lovers prove that "the course of true love never did run smooth", and the workaday world of the Mechanicals who labor at the trades and who yearn to ACT. In true Shakespearean style, these three worlds eventually collide with hilarity and wit and, of course, romance.
This year's production is a salute to the talented veterans who have performed in Arden for many years and a nod to the next generation of actors who continue the tradition. The cast is led by Jessica Jordan, a gifted Arden veteran who was seen in Much Ado About Nothing as Hero, In Merchant of Venice as Portia, and in As You Like It as Phoebe.
Jessica is joined by her husband,
Lee Jordan, a newcomer to the Arden stage and by her two children, Julien and Sophia Eppler who make their Arden debuts as fairies. "Once you are on the green, you can be anything your imagination wants you to be." Says Jessica, "Getting the opportunity to play the coy romance of Titania and Oberon compared to the more contrarian relationship of Hippolyta and Theseus is a lot of fun. No matter what pair of lovers you look to in Midsummer, or really in any of Shakespeare's plays, you will find a lot of truths about modern day relationships".
Jessica's stepfather, Chris Wright also returns to Arden after a long absence. He takes on the role of Egeus. Another family tie belongs to Henry Moncure III as Quince and his son, Henry Moncure IV as Demetrius. Henry III has been a mainstay of Arden's Shakespeare plays for many years. He was last seen as Agamemnon in Troilus and Cressida and as Albany in King Lear. His resume includes over a dozen Arden productions. His son Henry IV was a frequent participant in the Arden Shakespeare Gild's Young Actors' Workshop. Emma Orr returns to the Arden stage as Hermia. Audiences will remember her as Hero in Much Ado and as a wonderfully evil Regan in King Lear. She partners again with Colin Antes who was Claudio to her Hero in Much Ado. Dave Hastings is a familiar figure on the Arden stage and elsewhere; he rules the roost as Bottom. Tom Wheeler and Alan Kleban are happy fixtures on the Arden stage. They have both performed in over 20 productions at the Arden Village Green.
Director Tanya Lazar observes that "It is always the language that draws me to a play selection - and Midsummer Night's Dream has some of Shakespeare's most lyrical lines. For instance, Duke Theseus speaks of the 'lunatic, the lover and the poet' as one being, and Lysander mourns the loss of his true love with, 'So quick bright things come to confusion'. I was also drawn to a comparison between Midsummers, a comedy, and Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy. Indeed, the 'play within the play' performed by the Mechanicals is a new and often hilarious take on that revered tragedy"
Performances are June 9, 10, 15-17, 22, 23 and 24 at 7:30 PM plus a matinee on Sunday June 18 at 2PM. They take place outdoors at the Frank Stephens Memorial Theater (aka The Field Theater) adjacent to the Arden Village Green. Performances move to Gild Hall in the event of rain. Call (302) 475-3126, mailbox 4 to reserve your tickets or go to
www.ardenshakes.com for online ordering, Prices are $12.00 for general admission, $5.00 for children 12 and under and $5.00 for all matinee tickets.
Here is the cast for this summer's Arden Shakespeare Gild production of A Midsummer Night's Dream: (Directed by Tanya Lazar)
Jessica Jordan - Hippolyta/Titania
Lee Jordan - Theseus/Oberon
Kirsten Valania - Puck
Alexandra Rubincan - Fairy
Allison Rubincan - Fairy
Olivia Hayward - Fairy
Julian Jordan/Eppler - Fairy
Sophia Jordan/Eppler - Fairy
Emma D. Orr - Hermia
Jessica Fields - Helena
Colin Gregory Antes - Lysander
Henry Moncure IV - Demetrius
Christopher Wright - Egeus
Henry Moncure III - Quince
David C. Hastings - Bottom
Sean McGuire - Starveling/Moonshine
Tom Wheeler - Tom Snout/Wall
Gene Dzielak - Flute/Thisbe
Allan Kleban - Snug/Lion
Eric Merlino - Philostrate
Amalia Slattery - Changeling child
