Shakespeare Week

Athens, Ohio, and 20th-century Ireland are unlikely settings for plays written by William Shakespeare. But despite the nontraditional sets and costumes, it was all Shakespeare at recent performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “As You Like It” that Westminster students and faculty attended in one week.

To prepare the students for a week of focus on Shakespeare, English faculty member Tim Quinn ’96 gave an advance lecture about why he loves Shakespeare, Shakespearean comedy and the two plays in particular.

Shakespeare week began Sept. 23 with the Hartford Stage performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Hartford, where members of the Westminster community were treated to a 1950’s interpretation of the comedy that takes place in Athens, Ohio, rather than Athens, Greece. It featured period costumes, Hula Hoops and occasional 1950’s songs. After the performance, the actors returned to the stage, and the students asked them questions about the production.

“The Hartford Stage played ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream’ for laughs,” commented English Department Head Michael Cervas. “The physical humor of the play was especially appealing. Our students also appreciated the way the performance wove together speeches, songs, dance, mime and farce.”

One week later, the Werner Centennial Center was the site of the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company’s production of the romantic comedy “As You Like It,” which takes place in early 20th-century Ireland and uses a simple, yet highly effective, set and some originally composed music.

“The acting was superb, by the principals and by the minor characters, and the play came alive especially in the context of Shakespeare's lighter ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream,’ a play that is alluded to throughout ‘As You Like It,’ said Michael. “Best of all, the production made a sometimes very dark play quite accessible and quite funny.”

After the performance, Steve Stettler, a former member of the Westminster faculty and one of the producing directors of the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, shared some thoughts about the play and invited students to ask the actors questions.

“We were all very lucky to have the chance to see two great Shakespearean comedies performed by two outstanding companies, all within the space of one calendar week,” added Michael.

The Ford-Goldfarb Fund, the Graham Gund Visiting Artist Series and the Connell Arts Fund made the school’s attendance of the performances possible.