Have you ever wanted to see a show with ups and downs, complicated relationships, and fairies? Well if you said yes, then NDP’s Midsummer Night’s Dream is the show for you! It is filled with twists and turns, fantasy creatures, and even a touch of steam punk.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is about the duke of Athens, named Theseus, getting reading for his upcoming marriage to his fiancée Hippolyta. While he is finding entertainment for his wedding, a nobleman comes to his court with a problem of whom his daughter Hermia wishes to marry. Her wishes are not granted, so she runs away with the man she truly loves named Lysander. Demetrius is the man Hermia’s father wants her to marry. As Hermia and Lysander run away into the woods, you meet Oberon and Titania, the queen and king of the fairies. Oberon wants revenge on Titania, so he sends his servant Puck to charm the lovers. Throughout the story, there are some mishaps in the love triangle that lead to an eventful and constantly dynamic performance.
The actors in our show have taken on these roles with professional skill and have brought life to them. With this show being a Shakespearean play, deciphering the meaning of each line can be quite a difficult task. During the rehearsal process, the actor’s expressions and staging was constantly changing. One dynamic scene in particular took the actors a long time to master: a major fight scene in the show that includes Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena, as played by Meghan Cain, Drew Koulop, Joey Benassi, and Nikki Smith. These actors have amazing talent and have mastered this scene with a speed and talent that is remarkable. They started with a few simple blocking instructions and morphed the scene into a hilarious moment that lights up the stage. Each time they perform the scene, it gets better and better. Even after watching it many times, the entire cast still cracks up every time. This really is an attest to the talent we have at NDP.
Aside from the acting process that has been a great journey, another interesting aspect of the show is the steam punk elements. This is a new twist that NDP added to the show. The sets and costumes all reflect this cool new style that brings parts of modern culture into a classic play. The cast and crew have worked tirelessly in the only 3 weeks we had to put together an amazing show with these elements intertwined.
The cast and crew can’t wait to present to show and we sincerely hope that you can come out to support NDP’s latest theatrical performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Katharine Graham was an esteemed publisher, who courageously stepped up in her husband’s position at The Washington Post after he committed suicide. Her memoir won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1998. 
