A Midsummer Night's Dream: Experiencing Theater

William Shakespeare (1564-1616), an English playwright and poet, is recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists. Hundreds of editions of his plays have been published, including translations in all major languages. Scholars have written thousands of books and articles about his plots, characters, themes, and language. He is the most widely quoted author in history, and his plays have probably been performed more times than those of any other dramatist. Among his famous play are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, first performed probably in 1594 or 1595 and first published in 1600, presents a happy blend of fantasy and realism, and may have been intended for performance at an aristocratic wedding. The comedy weaves together a number of separate plots involving three different realms: one inhabited by two pairs of noble Athenian lovers; another by members of the fairy world—notably, King Oberon, Queen Titania, and the mischievous Puck; and the third by a group of bumbling and unconsciously comic townspeople who seek to produce a play for wedding celebrations. These three worlds are brought together in a series of encounters that swerve from the realistic to the magical to the absurd and back again in the space of only a few lines. In Act III, for example, Oberon plays a trick on Titania while she sleeps, employing Puck to anoint her with a potion that will cause her to fall in love with the first creature she sees on waking. As it happens, she opens her eyes to the sight of Bottom the weaver, adorned by Puck with an ass’s head. Yet the comic episode of the Queen of the Fairies “enamored of an ass” echoes the play’s more profound concerns with the nature of love and imagination.
A Midsummer Night's Dream, originally, weaves together a number of separate plots: an argument between the fairy king and queen; a royal wedding in Athens; the love affairs of four young Athenians; and the efforts of a group of common workers to produce a play for the state wedding celebrations. Act I, Scene 2, introduces the workmen as they begin their production and assemble for the distribution of parts; Bottom the weaver's desire to steal the stage and play every role contrasts comically with Snug's timidity. They meet to begin their rehearsals in Act III, Scene 1, and Shakespeare's portrayal of this early amateur dramatic society at work has charmed audiences for many years. As the summer night moves towards its conclusion, the many strands of the plot are increasingly woven together. Here Bottom is drawn into the middle of the conflict between Oberon, the fairy king, and his queen Titania. The sleeping Titania has been bewitched with a magical flower so that she will fall in love with the first man she sees on waking. Stumbling across Bottom and his companions in the forest near Titania's bed, Oberon's servant Puck decides to ensure that the queen's humiliation—and thus his master's revenge—are complete, by transforming the unwitting weaver into an ass.
Here in MSU-IIT (Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology), there’s a course that concerns with drama and plays. This course is English 145N (Dramatics and Stagecraft); its prerequisite is Introduction to Drama. Of course, students from MSU-IIT can take this course especially the Batchelor of Arts in English (AB English) students. Usually, this course is offered during the second semester of an Academic Year. As a requirement to pass this course, the class must present a play (it may be made by the class or adopted from famous dramatist). This was one of the two major reasons why the third year AB English major students presented William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was mounted on January 28, 2005 at CASS (College of Arts and Social Sciences) Rooftop. The second reason was the ABEO (AB English Organization) Week was requesting us to present. Copious students, friends, families and faculty came and watched the stunning, astonishing, splendid, comic and spectacular play. I said copious because the room was truly filled with people that others were not accommodated properly; some just stood up and various audiences stood up on top of the chairs solely to see the play.
After the show, various people came to us, shaking our hands. To me, certainly, a number of faculty, friends and people came and shook my hands. They said “Congratulations”, “Very Good”, “Nice”, “Okay”, “Grabe!”, “Stunning”, “Super!”, “Nindota Uy!”, “I like it!”, “I like your acting”, “I like your team up with Helena” and professor Ortega and Tan said “Two more shows!” Looking at their faces, I could confidently say that we did a marvelous job and no definite and exact words can explain how much the audience liked it and how amazing the show was. Even I, myself, was speechless after I heard all those comments and praises; and I said to my self “I’m in pedestal now!” I did feel great and proud later than the show. When I was on my way home, I was aware that I had a shining and smiling face. I could not help but smile and feel good.
However before those blissful moments, I with my classmates undergone or went through difficulties, dilemmas, hardships, pains, sufferings, circumstances, turmoil and injustice to the extent that we felt we couldn’t present at the targeted date. On the process, because of those chaoses, I came to a point that I decided neither to join anymore nor to show up. There are many things to say what happened during the practices and even outside the practices but some were too personal and confidential.
When Prof. Peñola told us who would be the characters of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I was so excited because I do love acting and theatre stuffs. I was supposed to play the role of Theseus but there were some changes due to some reasons. Thus, I played Demetrius. Actually, I had not seen the movie nor read the play, hence, I had no idea about this character and personality. When I asked my classmates who’d seen the movie or read the play, they would say Demetrius is an arrogant and proud young man. They said he’s looking good however, he’s kind of antagonist in the story. When I evaluated my character I’m not that arrogant (if I am) and proud. Most of all, I don’t have the looks. In other words, I feel that I didn’t match Demetrius and I couldn’t be Demetrius. I needed a lot of work, makeover and characterization so that I could be or move and act just a little like Demetrius. I did had a hard time watching movies and trying to imitate how the antagonists deliver their lines, how they express their feelings, how they move, act, the expressions on their faces, their gestures and how they communicate to the people they like and hate. About my looks, I took care of my face, I eat the right diet and try to sleep early that I would not look tired and horrible. It’s the most that I could do for my face and my character.
After those preparations, I was then so ready to memorize my lines and deliver them. When I came to our practice, I was so excited to work with my classmates and friends. I feel comfortable because I know them. The first practice was fine but sooner, I noticed that most of the characters don’t come in time, would be absent, and during rehearsals, they are not that serious and dedicated. Because of that, I didn’t feel like becoming serious for it was useless, my classmates would just go there and be funny, laugh and play literally. In spite all those, my classmates would just tolerate and compromise, they would say “be serious” but they don’t do anything to stop those who were making funny stuffs. It was true that they would say, “Stop it” but you could see in their faces that they were not so serious in disciplining them. They would even go along with them. No matter how immoral some of the characters would do during the practice, as long as he’s/she’s their friend, its okay, perfectly fine. One time I was late because a teacher told me to do things for her. When I came in, “the group” mocked and ridiculed me for being late. They said because I was late, the practice was delayed; all characters must be in to have a practice. Actually, I was not the director and I didn’t play the character that had a lot of speaking lines. They can practice without me. In the first place, I was late for some reasonable reasons but they hated me that much. The next time I came on time, one of the members of “the group” was late with no reasons, but still we proceeded with our practice. When he/she came, they did say nothing. They even did friendly expressions and gestures. As we continue with our practice, again, a member of “the group” was making foolishness (laughed, mocked, dance and extended lines with nonsense). They laughed and compromised. Nevertheless, there was one time when a classmate of ours laughed in the middle of the practice because he mispronounced, “the group” immediately commented and scolded him for not being serious. They were angry then because, according to “the group”, we’re not doing any good to the play. Honestly, there were many proofs that “the group” was so unfair and because some members of it were on high position of the play, they made their own rules and regulations. They consider inconsiderable behaviors and inconsiderate to considerable behaviors. These things did happen until we had our final presentation. Many of us suffered but we continued for our grade and for the department.
The final day had come. We came early for decorations. All I can say to the decorations was that it was not too much and not too poor. I believe it was just enough to capture the environment the play wanted to show and depict. In doing the decorations, I could see the “props” (all women) who were so poor doing the carrying of heavy objects clean here and there. I think they did all things beyond what they should.
At 4 pm, the characters put make-up with the help of some staffs. Well, what I could say to the make-up thing was that there are only few who can do that stuff but there were many characters who needed it. To the make-up artists, they were so in a hurry that they were so harsh on our faces, it was such a painful experience especially the eyeliner thing. Another thing was that there were only few make-up kits, lipstick and foundation. During the make-up thing, it was so hot but there were only two electric fan, many would compete just to get the wind. Together with the make up session was the costume rehearsal session. I was astonished by the effect of the colors, design and style. However, we didn’t look Shakespearean. We look like we’re going to a JS Prom, the females wore gowns and the males wore Americana. It could have been, if there were a lot of money, went to the tailoring shop and made perfect and appropriate costumes for us. Well, it didn’t happen, we’re poor.
The play didn’t start exactly as we planned because some faculty members came in late (Filipino Time). We started perhaps 6:20 pm. The show started with the fairies dancing. Obviously, they didn’t act that well but I believe some of them did well and tried their very best. When it comes to acting (this is not only coming from my own observation but also from the audience) it was perfectly fine. We were good actors. Some people said that even if they didn’t hear our words, they still comprehend and understand because of our expressions, actions and gestures. Seemingly, we’re professional artists who can convincingly perform and entertain. I believe, we were able to let the audience interact and let them react what we expected.
A play isn’t that good without the technical stuffs, the lights, sounds and microphones. The sounds system wasn’t good enough because the background music wasn’t heard by the people in the back. Sometimes the sounds would produce noise and unnecessary tones. Obviously, there were also problems with the lights. There was a scene where this portion had to be lighted but the light assigned there was off. There was also a part where this portion of the stage must not have light but there was light on it. However, the light did help create scenery that was almost perfect. The blending and combinations of it produce a spectacular show. It makes the atmosphere dark, light, dim, lonely and happy. Some of the people even said that the light contributed much to the effectiveness of the show. Well, we couldn’t expect much from the technicians because we didn’t pay that much. When it comes to the microphones, we lacked. The characters passed and passed the microphones from one to another, thus delaying a bit the show. Because we lacked microphones, almost all the people didn’t hear what we said.
Those difficulties produced a sweet and colorful fruit that caused the audience to ask more, to ask for a series of shows. I think we deserved those praises and comments because we did our best in spite of all the turmoil within the class. We strived hard just to entertain the audience so that we could get a grade that matches our competence and talent. Because of that, many people were entertained. I confess that the play has changed my life a bit. More people appreciate me and my talent and more people know me. It somehow enhances and develops my skills in acting and delivering lines. I may not be the best actor but I played the role and character of the best actor. I know I will never forget this momentous experience; it’s already part of my past, my history and my moment that once I was Demetrius!