Students perform 'Midsummer' in midwinter

Photo by: Will Gentry

Students and alumni prepare to perform a Shakespearean classic for the campus community.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is the latest theatrical venture to make its way onto Oklahoma Christian University’s campus.

“How often in college do you get to see live theater, unless you go down to the Civic Center and spend bookoos of money to see a musical?” junior Talon Ice said. “It’s also just a really great way to take an evening off of your homework and just kind of laugh and enjoy yourself in the midst of all the stress and Spring Sing.”

The play contains three different intertwined stories.

There are lovers, kings and queens, average workers, fairies and magic sprinkled throughout.

Though the characters are fictional, the story’s numerous themes bring to life the complications of young love and the desperate drive to belong.

Barrett Huddleston, associate professor of communications at Oklahoma Christian, plays the role of producer and director.

“We try to accommodate a variety of audience experiences,” Huddleston said. “If this is going to be your first Shakespeare play, it’s a good play to come to, and even if you can quote chapter and verse of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ there will be plenty of new ideas to engage with during the production.”

In directing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Huddleston’s goal is to convey a particular message to the viewers – one of unexpected joy and laughter.

“My hope is that the audience will be able to look upon even solemn ideas such as marriage, politics and romance with the same levity that Shakespeare imposed [in] the drama,” Huddleston said.

Alumnus Elise Nalley is most looking forward to the unique language of the play.

“I like learning how to read poetry, classical poetry, so that it flows with the way that you’re moving and the way that you’re conveying meaning,” Nalley said. “… When you read it it’s just kind of boring, but when you actually get to speak it and get to do it and get to see it, it totally changes the perspective.”

Even if students have viewed this particular Shakespearean play before, it bears remembering not every play is identical.

No matter if the script comes from the same place or person, every play possesses individual subtle idiosyncracies.

“This is my fourth time being in ‘Midsummer’ and I love that there will be some line that sometimes a director completely ignores and then other directors take on a completely different meaning,” sophomore Tyler Jacobs said. “It’s just interesting to see the different ways that things are taken.”

Huddleston sees the play as an opportunity for actors of varying talents and intensities to connect with the audience.

“I think that more than any other Shakespearean comedies this play has avenues and opportunities for an array of different skill levels and talents, which makes it very accommodating for a campus audience and for amateur performers,” Huddleston said.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has been promoted throughout history, which gives the play and storyline more of a familiar feeling.

“It’s always good just for people to see Shakespeare on stage,” Ice said. “We’ve all read ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in high school, at least a majority of us, so why not see it live instead of on TV or reading it for yourself?”

Jacobs also elaborated on how the play pulls in viewers.

“I think you really get engaged into it [the play] because you have to do more thinking about it than you would normally,” Jacobs said.

Auditions for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” were held Dec. 9 and the work began Jan. 11.

The actors have spent several days a week rehearsing their lines and perfecting the surprises involved in the upcoming shows.

“We have several visual and physical surprises related to the comedy of the show that I’m not willing to give away, but I’m eager to see the audience’s response to those moments, especially those who tend to view Shakespeare as either biennial or boring,” Huddleston said.

The play will be free to students who present a valid Oklahoma Christian student identification card.

The performances will take place on Feb. 21, Feb. 22, Feb. 28 and March 1 at 8 p.m. in Judd Theatre.