Many of us know Midsummer Night’s Dream as the Shakespeare play that we had to read in Language Arts Class, either fondly, or with some distaste. But what if Puck taught Oberon what FaceTime was? And the play was composed by a group of Ocean County hairstylists? Midsummer Night’s Jersey reimagines Midsummer Night’s Dream from a more modern perspective, set at the Jersey Shore.
When Midsummer Jersey took the stage for its final performance on November 16th, the excitement (and fatigue) were unmistakable. There was nervous energy in the wings, fast-change costume checks, and that quiet focus that always settles in for performers just before the lights go up. The show’s cast and crew pulled off some incredible moments of confidence and humor that Sunday afternoon. But there was also something lingering: everyone’s awareness that something really meaningful was about to come to an end. The last day of a show is bittersweet. Months of work have created something amazing. The whole community coming out to support the program feels spectacular. But the entire production has also been shaped by exhaustion. Long tech rehearsals, late nights, and the physical and emotional demands of performance are very draining. And yet, that same ending lands very differently depending on where you are in your theater journey. For freshmen just beginning, and seniors just finishing, the final curtain carries entirely different weight. The Caldron spoke with students at both ends of the stage to capture what “lasts” and “firsts” really feel like.
FIRST STEPS ON STAGE
The Caldron spoke to freshman Farida Elsaadany about her role as Nicki Bottom (Nick Bottom in the original). This was Ida’s first ever theatre experience, and she certainly made a grand debut.
How was it different working backstage to being on the actual stage?
“Working with different actors and actresses and assessing their preferences when setting props and moving things focuses more on mutual understanding rather than the skills involved in acting. Though they both require organizational skills and concentration, acting more so needs for projection, quick memorization, and cooperation. I found acting to be slightly more difficult because I struggle with memorization, but with practice I was able to bring my character to life.”
What were some of the challenges you faced as a new actor?
“I found that memorization in quick periods of time posed more of a challenge that I would think. I was used to forensics speeches and their nature so I thought I wouldn’t have much trouble, but I would soon later find that they were quite different in acting, projection, and ‘rules’.”
What did you take away from this experience?
“Organization was not my strong suit before this and I would often arrive late or be missing some blocking. This experience forced me to block out my time and work accordingly. I would have skills of organization for a lifetime due to my time in the play.”
What was your favorite part about working on Midsummer Night’s Dream in particular?
“There were so many things I enjoyed from a MSJ such as the play itself, the learning curve, and much more. My favorite, however, was the community (as you will hear from many others). I loved the people I got to work with and I appreciate being able to grow simply from the people around me. I especially loved the hairstylist and Romeo & Juliet scene because of its light-hearted nature.”
We also asked freshman Sam Reiser, who played “the balcony” (you had to be there!), hairstylist Robert Sudds, and the fairy Mote. Sam is very familiar with the stage, as some of his previous roles from his days at GCMS include Pigpen in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and the Duke of Wesleton in Frozen Jr. The Caldron asked Sam how being on stage at JCHS with a cast spanning ages 14-18 was unique.
What was different about this production and the productions at the middle school?
“I love how truly dedicated everyone is to theatre at both the high school. This really creates a community of people who really love and care about creating the best quality show we can possibly create. It really pushed me to do the best that I can on stage and truly give my all. My favorite part was definitely Robert Sudds, who within the play plays the balcony. I just loved hearing the audience’s reactions to see me play balcony.”
TAKING A FINAL BOW
While freshmen were just discovering what it feels like to step onto the high school stage for the first time, seniors were taking their final bows, knowing this chapter of their high school theater journey was coming to a close.
Shining more light on “lasts,” we spoke with senior Katie Malia, who had previously worked on stage crew and this year decided to join the cast. She has been part of the stage crew for every show since her sophomore year. This year, she was cast as Joanne DiCarlo, the mother of Mia (Hermia).
How is it different being onstage and being on stage crew?
“After being in the crew for two years before deciding to cast, I can say that they are truly two completely different experiences. Especially since when working with crew, for each production you usually are only called for at most two weeks, but with cast it was a lot bigger of a time commitment…I will say you do get the same anxious rush before your cue for both the cast and the crew,”
What were some of the challenges you faced as a new actor?
“Being that it was my senior year, and my first time ever acting in a production, I definitely had moments where I doubted myself. I had always kind of wanted to do cast but was scared at times, so it took a lot to overcome this fear.” “One of the biggest things for me, though, was how much I missed being part of the crew. Crew was what I knew, what I’d done for so long, and I was scared that stepping into the cast meant losing time with the friends I’d made there. But in the end, it turned out to be the best of both worlds. I met so many amazing new people in the cast, and I still got to spend time with the crew friends who have meant so much to me. It made the whole experience feel full in a way I didn’t expect.”
