By Sara Hollar, Olympia High School Intern to Thurston Talk
Fake tans, heavy makeup, high heels and Jersey accents are not things you would expect from a classic Shakespeare play. But they are exactly what you get in Olympia High School’s rendition of Midsummer Jersey.
Midsummer Jersey is a rendition of the well-known play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, brought into the 21st century. Centered on the stars of a reality TV show set on the Jersey Shore, the comedy has plenty of pop culture to keep it fresh Olympia High School’s drama department has been known for its outstanding performances and Midsummer Jersey promises to be no exception. The cast is hoping to draw a large crowd because they believe their production will appeal to audiences both young and old.
Kathy Dorgan, the Olympia drama teacher and director of Midsummer Jersey shared her hopes for the production as a modern retelling, “I hope that audiences see Shakespeare wrote plays that are timeless. Even though the setting has changed, the story and a lot of the lines are as written in Shakespeare’s original language, all the situations that he wrote so long ago are still very much relevant.”
Many of the actors playing lead roles in Midsummer Jersey have been involved in theater for much of their lives. Some are experienced with drama at OHS and have made their way through a huge cast of characters. Others pursue drama outside of school, participating in the different theater programs that Thurston County has to offer. For instance, Kate Anders, who plays Helene, has been in many plays, including the Olympia School District Education Foundation productions. Mackey Smith-Simmons plays Governor Chris Athens and is also active in drama outside of school. He performs in plays and musicals at Capital Playhouse’s Kids at Play along with many of his Midsummer Jersey cast mates. Even those who aren’t seasoned actors come from backgrounds rich with arts like music and dance.
Olympia High School typically kicks off their drama season with a fun comedy. The season continues with another production in the winter and is ended by the spring musical. The drama department draws a wide array of students throughout the entire run of shows.
Not only are there actors and actresses wishing to showcase their talent, skilled artists, technicians and builders also contribute to make the best shows possible. A group of hardworking students, headed by John Chernoff, devote their time to running the backstage by working the curtain, lights, sound system and executing seamless set changes. A large crew of students collaborate to create beautiful and functional sets as well.
Midsummer Jersey can’t exactly be called a traditional choice for a high school play but the Olympia students are excited to prove their abilities. Dorgan says, “The most difficult part of putting on this production was probably the Jersey accents, and the setting. Also, the show has a very quick pace so just keeping it moving along has been a challenge at times.” Despite the challenges of bringing a beloved classic into a new light, the Midsummer Jersey cast provides great entertainment with lots of laughs. The play takes full advantages of all the unique Jersey characteristics from accents to slang to hairstyles.
Seeing Shakespeare’s romance with magic and faeries come to life on the New Jersey boardwalk is a treat in and of itself, but Midsummer Jersey also provides a new view on Shakespeare and other quintessential plays. It’s hard not to picture other classic tales being brought into the modern era after seeing it. While the production is a delight as an audience member the other thing that makes it great is the actors seem to be having a fantastic time on stage.
This play is just a joy to perform, in fact that is the reason that Dorgan chose it. She says, “I read about the play last year and ordered a copy to read. When I read it, I loved it. I talked to a colleague who teaches theater in a Seattle school. They did the show last year and she said they had a great time with it and encouraged me to give it a try!”
Midsummer Jersey’s cast and crew can’t wait for an audience to share the story that they’ve put so much time and effort into. “The best part of putting on the production has been the cast and crew, of course,” shares Dorgan. “They have worked so hard to bring the play to life and I admire and applaud the work they’ve done.”
Midsummer Jersey opens Friday night, November 8 in the Olympia High School Performing Arts Center. It continues Saturday, November 9 and the following weekend on November 14 – 16. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students.
