Elizabeth Garrard 
by Giovanna Dellaria of Cooper City High School
Fairies, false love, and fabulous comedy; a wild story! Saint Thomas Aquinas High School’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a whimsical tale of love and chaos on an escapade into the forest.
Written by the widely famous William Shakespeare and first produced in 1605, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” has seen many performances and adaptations in the hundreds of years it has existed. This production offers a creative spin on the age-old play and sets the tale in the 1960s! Audiences follow the story of four Athenians caught in a complicated love tangle. After escaping to the forest in a denouncement of their arranged romances, they are met with manipulation from the fairies present in the woods and mischief ensues.
Playing the role of Helena, one of the four Athenians, was Ava T. Fowler. Fowler showed impressive dedication to her character, with evident motivations behind each action and consistent emotion throughout the show. Also worthy of commendation was Mateo Cruz in the role of Lysander. Cruz displayed his skills in physical acting throughout the show and adjusted his physicality depending on his emotions, be it a bragging, excitable mood or a loopy, lovestruck state.
Daniel Ramos was hilarious in the role of Nick Bottom. He possessed precise comedic timing that enhanced his scenes and stirred laughs from audiences. Also shining comedically was Kelly Induisi as the mischievous fairy Puck. Whether she was delivering an improvised one-liner that added to her character or skipping around the stage, Induisi was consistent and on point in her deliveries. Also deserving of commendation was Brianna Kruse playing Mustardseed, a fairy that Kruse was committed to making a unique character.
As a whole, the ensemble stayed in character well for the duration of the performance. Despite some early problems with vocal projection and energy, these issues were rectified in the second half of the performance. One standout group was the Theatre Troupe, who all worked together to craft a comedic yet sweet chemistry with each other and come together as a group that not only works together, but cares for each other.
The Costumes team, headed by Emma Coronado and Celeste Estrada, worked together to create looks that were both accurate to the time period and varied in style. Costumes were distinct from each other while still looking cohesive. Also impressive was the Choreography work done by Alexandra Tous, who also played Peaseblossom. She choreographed the fairies’ movements and stunts done on aerial silks, which were a pleasant surprise and added to their otherworldly identities.
Overall, Saint Thomas Aquinas High School’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was full of creative charm and hilarious hijinks. Each cast member gave a shining performance and told this crazy story incredibly well.
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