Shakespeare in the quad

On stage, NiNi Yue talks with (L-R) Kayla Popovich, Kara Hoffman, and Ryl Valiente in the Yamawaki auditorium. Photo courtesy of Evie Crudele

Greater Company Players, the joint theatrical effort of Regis College and Lasell University, are in the midst of their newest—and freakiest—production, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which will debut on April 10.

With “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” being written in Early Modern English, the Greater Company Players find themselves having to break down lines individually in order to fully understand the motivations and emotions of the characters they’re portraying.

A classic from countless English literature classes, the Shakespeare show follows a series of magical mishaps that entangle four lovers in the marriage plans of forest fairy royalty. This semester marks firsts for many involved in the production, with very few of the actors ever having been involved in a Shakespeare show during their dramatic careers.

“The language is quite different from Modern English, so it can feel clunky at times,” said Crudele.

Senior history major Evie Crudele will be portraying Helena, one member of the show’s complicated ‘love square.’ Crudele has acted with the Greater Company Players since her first year on campus, and is eager to continue with this semester’s newest production despite its challenges.

Julia Burke, a registrar’s office coordinator at Regis College, will be acting as the Greater Company Players’ director for her fourth consecutive production. Burke explained how she and Stage Manager, Script Supervisor and Lasell professor Karissa Vincent have been working with students to best approach the script.

(L-R) Alicia Karunaratne, Alex Maguire, and Mary Quinn recite lines for their upcoming performance. Photo courtesy of Evie Crudele

“I have always wanted to be in a Shakespeare show, so doing this is exciting because I can check that off my bucket list,” Crudele said. “We do have a few cast members who have done Shakespeare, but that is really it. We are all a bit overwhelmed but ready to take on this challenge head on all together.”

“A lot of students—and honestly, myself included— have, kind of, reservations about Shakespeare because of the language and because of how it’s presented educationally,” Burke said.

Throughout the semester, the cast has had to deal with the expected tasks of learning a play—memorizing lines and planning on-stage movements—as well as the more challenging mission of determining what the lines they’re reading mean.

During rehearsals, Vincent has students read a few lines of text, then takes the time to review the words until everyone involved has a thorough understanding of them.

“Rather than saying it like a poem, or reading it flat out because they don’t know what they’re saying, they can ground it in words that they would actually say, or feelings that they would actually have to understand it,” Burke said. “Then, when we put it on the stage, and I’m able to start blocking it, and giving them more character notes and intentions behind what they’re saying, they already know what they’re saying.”

Burke continued to discuss her inspirations behind the unique adaptation she is envisioning.

A little less magic and a little more real, if that makes sense,” said Burke.

While the original story is set in Ancient Greece— Athens, specifically, and the surrounding forest—Burke’s direction brings the Players into a realm of surrealism. She plans on working with costuming and set design to give the production a disarming and elusive aura. Those who have described the show’s atmosphere have referenced events including the 1969 Woodstock festival, the 2023 film “Saltburn,” raves, and other brightly-colored, disarming, and mind-altering experiences.

Senior communication major Kayla Popovich is playing the character of Hermia, another one of the show’s four lovers. She describes how these visually-intriguing themes were pitched to the cast.

“When describing the direction of the show, [Burke] told us to remember a time when we had a very weird dream, the feeling we got during that dream, and [how it felt] when we woke up, so we were able to understand the trippiness and confusion of the story,” Popovich said.

Both veteran and new members of the Greater Company Players have expressed their excitement and passion for their work with the group, especially with such a challenging and interesting production.

"Doing my last show at Lasell is a very bittersweet feeling," said Popovich. “I have been doing theatre since I was in second grade and I am not sure what theatre will look like for me going forward, so I am trying to make this experience and show very fun for myself.”

First year undeclared major Will Festa will be playing Nick Bottom, a character that provides comic relief, in his second production with the group.

“My experience joining Greater Company Players last semester was a joy, everyone is so great and welcoming,” Festa said. “It’s a really fun environment to be in!”

The Greater Company Players’ production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will run for three 7:30 p.m. performances on April 10-12 in the auditorium of Lasell’s Yamawaki Art and Cultural Center. Tickets will be free with Lasell student ID or available for $7 at the door on the days of the event.