Teens conquer Shakespeare

Shakespeare is often daunting; the language, the allusions, the concepts are often off-putting even to experienced thespians. Yet this summer, nine stalwart teens stretched their acting muscles to present "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" as part of the Mundelein Arts Commission’s annual Summer Shakespeare Shorts. The result was a perfect mix of comedy and classics with crowd-pleasing results, presented Aug. 9-11 as the first show at the new Park Street Park in Mundelein. The audience arrived ready for fun, and they were not disappointed.

Directed by MAC Commissioner Jon Matousek and Joyce Lee, with assistance from Carol Aronson, the show moved smoothly, emphasizing the comedy and talents of the young participants, made all the more challenging by the fact that each player had to perform at least two different parts, with quick changes of costumes as well as characters. The comfortably-paced hour-long version was edited by Lee, who trimmed the show without losing any of its humor or poetry and added the character of the narrator, who kept the ideas flowing.

Performers included Sky Asby, a sophomore at Grayslake High School as the Narrator, Francis Flute and the hilarious Thisby; Jimena Torres Gonzalez, Mundelein High School Junior, who played Hippolyta and fairy queen Titania; Noah Letts, MHS sophomore, as Egeus, Snout, and the Wall; Zavier Nold, a Junior at Chesterton Academy in Volo, as Duke Theseus, Bottom, and Pyramus; Keira Stanley, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, as Helena and Quince; Sasha Stephanidis, an eighth grader at Highland Middle School in Libertyville as Hermia, the Fairy, Snug the Joiner and the Lion; Aspen Sweet, MHS senior, as Puck, or Robin Goodfellow; Finn Trackman, MHS sophomore, as Demetrius, Starveling, and the Moon; and Matt Zurawski, a sophomore at McHenry High School, as Lysander and fairy king Oberon. These young people came together as strangers, but leave as family, united in the challenge and fun of theater.

In an incredible show of community support, rehearsal space was provided by the Mundelein Parks and Rec Department and by Diana O’Kelly, who offered the Fremont Township Community Room. Frank Mahar, owner of AREA Store, was accommodating to the cast as well, and as a special treat, Nora and Paul Arroyo of Park Street Restaurant provided after-show appetizers for the evening performances and hosted the cast party.

"A Midsummer Night’s Dream" was the perfect way to close the summer, offering the players the chance to pursue their theater dreams while creating a new circle of friends and enchanting the large, appreciative audiences.