Mainland Drama Club presents mashup of ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ ‘Jersey Shore’ on Nov. 18-20
LINWOOD — The Mainland Regional High School Drama Club will present a hilarious, high-octane version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” set on the boardwalk of a seaside town in modern-day New Jersey.
“‘Midsummer Jersey’ is a wonderful theatrical mashup of a classic story and New Jersey pop culture,” said director Curt Foy, the new drama/performing arts teacher who replaced Becky Sannino at Mainland. “Ken Ludwig does a brilliant job at adapting Shakespeare’s most popular comedic romp about relationships, mistaken identity and unfiltered mischief.”
The story revolves around the impending marriage of the governor of New Jersey, the love affairs of four beach-bound high school crushes, a lively crew of screwball fairies and the staff of the local beauty salon, according to kenludwig.com. “With several weddings and the acting careers of six beauticians hanging in the balance, the lovers take to the boardwalk, backed by pop music and an iPhone-obsessed wood sprite.”
The musical comedy stars Yullian Pereira is Governor Chris Athens and Isabela Perez as fiancée Hippolyta, as well as three groups of performers.
— The Lovers: Payton Lamp is Mia “Cookie” DiCarlo, Mason Naman is Lyle “The Understatement” Fagioli, Tripp Corson is Denis and Roselyn Driscoll is Helene.
—The Fairies: John Alice is Oberon, Michael Leiderman is Robin Goodfellow (Puck) and Anila Noushin is Titania.
— The Beauticians: Olivia D’Alessandro is Patti Quince and Franchesca Bozzi is Nikki Bottom.
“When 2009 came to a close, the world was introduced to a group of strangers living together in a house along the shoreline of Seaside Heights, Ocean County. Their only common interest: live up the party life along the Jersey shore for the summer,” Foy said. “Three years and six seasons later, the names Snooki, JWoww, Sammi Sweetheart, Pauly D and Mike ‘The Situation’ were household staples.”
Although the popularity of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” has waned, Foy said these celebrity icons and their summer antics are forever cemented in our brains. “It is our collective indulgence in these types of characters that provide us the fodder you are about to enjoy.”
Foy said he never has been a fan of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” but does love Ludwig’s take on the classic comedy.
“It wasn’t until Ken Ludwig’s adaptation that I truly appreciated what Shakespeare was trying to do: give us a chance to laugh at ourselves,” Foy said. “Ludwig’s scene-by-scene translation into a modern setting is masterful — it is clear whom we are watching, where they fit into the pecking order of this crazy world and how the action unfolds over one midsummer day.”
Foy said the disparate ingredients come together for a delightful dish.
“These characters would probably never interact with one another outside of the narrative within, but Shakespeare and Ludwig have given us this amazing hilarity that ensues when a handful of larger-than-life personalities collide by the hands of fate. Puck says it best when he reminds us ‘what fools these mortals be,’” Foy said.
Shows are 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, and Friday, Nov. 19, and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Mainland Regional High School. General admission tickets are $10. They will be available at the door or online at showtix4u.com/event-details/58366.
Cast:
Governor Chris Athens/Sunflower: Yullian Pereira
Hippolyta/Moonbeam: Isabela Perez
Justine DiCarlo/Peaseblossom: Ella Osbeck
Rufus DiCarlo/Turtle: Miller Lichtenwalner
Mia “Cookie” DiCarlo: Payton Lamp
Lyle “The Understatement” Fagioli: Mason Naman
Denis: Tripp Corson
Helene: Roselyn Driscoll
Oberon: John Alice
Robin Goodfellow (Puck): Michael Leiderman
Titania/Phyllis Trait/Principal Platt: Anila Noushin
Patti Quince/Student: Olivia D’Alessandro
Nikki Bottom/Student: Franchesca Bozzi
Franci Flute/Student: Katie Surkin
Robert Sudds/Student: Vincenzo Caruso
Janet Snugg/Student: Hilary Dominguez
Terri Thumbs/Student: Karina Sheldon
Mote: Max Pisetzner
Sunshine: Haylee Cass
Cobweb: Pauline Leiderman
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
