By Charlie Denison
Since before Christmas, Director Rinda Frye and Assistant Director Amy Attaway have been working with their cast to bring Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to life in Louisville. And this Groundhog Day at the Playhouse, after months of practice and preparation, you will be able see how the University of Louisville does Shakespeare.
Some of Frye’s former students have been reunited with her for the play. One of them is fourth-year student Luke Holladay.
“Rinda,” said Holladay. He looked down and let out a chuckle. “She’s tough, but not unnecessarily. She has a very enlightening approach to showing us why we messed up. We learn each time – just like in her class.”
Holladay said that Shakespearean acting has presented new challenges for him. “With Shakespeare, mess-ups aren’t allowed. The lines are given in a very precise rhythm. In fact, the language itself is a rhythm. If someone starts fidgeting their line, ad-libbing just doesn’t work. Everyone notices.”
Holladay plays Lysander, a lover lost in the woods who has tricks played on him by the fairies. He plays opposite Hermia (Treneice Walton), who has run away to avoid an undesired marriage to Demetrius (Tim Kelty). The fairies tease and torment the lovers in the forest.
Written in 1600, the play combines four separate plots and four groups of characters: royalty, nobles, fairies and mechanicals (common workers of Athens).
Holladay mentioned one scene in particular as physically taxing.
“We practice in the gravel-floored basement of the Playhouse,” said Holladay. “Every night we’d rehearse a scene where the fairies throw me to the ground. For me, the scene is a little bit of acting, a lot of pain.”
Holladay also spoke of the emotional aspects of his experience as Lysander. “This character is so much more complex than characters I’ve played in the past. I’ve been able to discover more about this character than any of the others.”
Holladay noticed the same discoveries in his fellow actors. “Typically, by the week before tech rehearsal, everyone knows exactly what their character is about and how to play them. With this show, I’ve seen so many continue to reveal more depth.”
Robert Blizard, a recent graduate of the U of L Drama Department, talked about what to expect and how to prepare for seeing Shakespeare. “A lot of people who see Shakespeare already know what the story is about. It’s best to know the play beforehand and easier to then get into the heart of the dialogue.”
Blizard also offered tips for what to look for as an audience member: “Shakespeare can be difficult for people to watch because they don’t know whether it should be entertaining or educational, but Shakespeare isn’t supposed to be boring. If it is, it wasn’t done right.”
“A lot of actors don’t portray the characters as Shakespeare intended,” Blizzard added. “It’s hard, as an actor, to know where your freedom lies between artistic liberty and artistic license.”
It is indisputable that Shakespeare’s work is art and “Midsummer” is no exception. With opening night approaching, Holladay said, “I still love to watch every scene when I’m off-stage. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it – it’s dynamic.
“Shakespeare allows every role he writes to be a star,” Holladay said. “Each character is wonderfully real.”
Other actors involved include Raven Railey, Erin Crites, Buddy Lagani, Kate Holland and Sean Childress. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens Wednesday night at 8 p.m. There will be a show Thursday-Saturday at the same time and a matinee at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 for the general public and $7 for students.
