Director's Notes

Puck: What fools these mortals be.

It is a difficult challenge to find the right script for a successful performance by middle school students; they are so extreme, mature and childlike at their best. It is so difficult, that for the past five years ASIJ students and teachers have written their own scripts with wonderful success. But this season we undertook a new challenge, a unique presentation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. If we can't write it ourselves, why not go for the greatest English playwright, the Bard himself?

There is so much in Midsummer that it is hard to know where to begin. Is it about the magic of the creatures of the night? Almost everyone knows of the mischievous Puck and his tricks. We sure love mischief. Is it a play about confused lovers? Middle school is certainly a time of exploring relationships. Maybe challenging authority and even your parents. Does that sound familiar? And then there is the play within a play; our need for attention, to be unique.

Our version is faithful and well as contemporary. Every word in our script is original Shakespeare, though we trimmed a bit. We turn our tongues around the beautiful language and comic puns. Since the themes and issues of Midsummer are as relevant today as they were in Shakespeare's time, we found in rehearsal that the language works well with a modern inflection; lover's still quarrel and enjoy making up, friends still tease, families still disagree. Also, through improvisation and discussions, we reset the scene to 'Tropolis," a modern city with a central wooded park for magic and mischief. Keep an eye out for the art deco and art nouveau design influences in the city and park respectively. And most exciting is the soundtrack created from student choices of pop music of the last few decades.

I am lucky to be able to work with such great young people. I leave each rehearsal inspired. These are clever kids and they are good to each other. I know that they will never think of Shakespeare as some ancient boring text to study, but instead a living drama that they can make their own.

Quince: Marry, our play is a most lamentable comedy.
Bottom: A good piece of work I assure you.

Special thanks to Sharron, Ken, Cindy who may not have known what they were getting into, and to Chris and Anita who did. Sue, Megan, and Emi for many details and support. Steve and Janet for bussing. Aria, Albert and Susan for filling in the blanks. Kim for knowing the play better than me. And to parents for letting me borrow their children for a couple of months.

-Brent