Nothing Special Productions to play up silliness in Shakespeare comedy

Is the impending start of summer making you feel a bit impish?

Nothing Special Productions presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream" beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Elgin Art Showcase.

The comedy is full of mayhem and magic.

"'Midsummer' is one of Shakespeare's most hysterical comedies," said Nick Cardiff, artistic director for Nothing Special Productions. "We bring a heightened level of playfulness to it."

The show provides opportunities for fun and mischief, as a cast of wacky characters encounter enchanted elixirs, love spells and intertwining story lines.

"There's a lot of magic and fairies, things we don't normally get to play around with," said director Mikey Laird, who also plays Theseus. "It's fun!"

Cardiff agrees.

"You have these young lovers who are so comical dealing with their crazy hormones," he said. "It's definitely relatable, and even funnier to watch with Shakespearean language."

While cast members enjoyed their time with The Bard, their passion lies in producing original works and sparking creativity in young minds. NSP often travels to elementary schools to present storytelling workshops.

"Many of us went to school in district 301 or U-46, and we know how our lives were affected by being exposed to the arts," Laird said. "We want to let kids know it's OK to be creative."

Laird and Cardiff fear school budget cuts will keep students from experiencing the benefits of art education.

They have visited more than 20 schools so far and are hoping to find grants so they can continue their outreach program.

The giving spirit is not limited to the classroom; for its Sunday, May 24 matinee performance, NSP is offering a "recession special" where guests can pay what they can. Also, throughout the show's run, artists of any kind can purchase half-price tickets simply by bringing a business card or headshot.

Everyone involved in the show wants to spread their love of theater and art any way possible.

As the company's motto states, "Life's too short not to play!"