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Shakespeare may have had his actors ask for the indulgence of their audiences, but the passionate performances of nine Cape Henlopen student thespians did not require such tolerance as they presented a Midsummer’s Daydream to an appreciative audience Friday, June 27, at the Milton Theatre.
The show consisted of a series of monologues, adapted by Mariner Middle School teacher Martha Pfeiffer and her husband, Paul Pfeiffer, who heads the theater department at Salisbury University.
Jenny West, who will be entering the ninth grade this fall, opened with lines from the chorus in “Henry V.” “Think when we talk of horses, that you see them,” she told the audience, inviting it to enter a world of marvel and imagination.
Narrator Paul Pfeiffer explained how it was words that caught the imagination of Shakespeare’s theatergoers, who described their experience as going to hear a play instead of using the modern reference of going to see a play. Maggie Williamson, who is almost completely deaf, chose to pursue Shakespearean form by speaking the monologue of Juliet calling on the night to come and bring her secret husband, Romeo, to her room.
“It was a great challenge and she met it well,” Martha Pfeiffer said of Maggie’s impassioned plea. It was the first time Maggie had performed before an audience without knowing most of the people present.
Later Maggie interpreted Sonnet 116 on the true nature of love with gestures and facial expression as the narrator provided voice for the lines. Valeria Johnson-Braswell interpreted the performances in sign language.
Maggie, who joined the drama club when she entered sixth grade in September 2007, said she has always been interested in performing. “Since I was a little girl I was a drama queen,” she said with a smile
First love was also the subject of monologues chosen by Nikki Stirrup in the role of Romeo and of Kelly Bossert speaking as Miranda in “The Tempest.”
Though Pfeiffer admitted to having some concerns when Nikki chose the Romeo monologue, she said she felt Nikki met the challenge and that her performance was brilliant.
As the morning progressed, Zach Logan appeared as a classically impish Puck from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” On judgment, mercy and the responsibility of leadership, Nikki Stirrup spoke as the Prince in “Romeo and Juliet,” followed by Neal Britton in the role of Shylock and Briana Porter as Portia from “The Merchant of Venice.”
Olivia Henning brought the words of Queen Gertrude from “Hamlet” alive as she explored death and fear of the unknown. And Alex Didycz epitomized hypocrisy and vanity in the role of Malvolo from “Twelfth Night.”
The drama club had approximately 75 members last year, said its faculty advisor, Martha Pfeiffer.
“These students are really interested in pursuing drama,” she said of the nine Midsummer’s Daydream performers and applauded each of them.
The students chose their scenes and rehearsed three hours a day for eight days, Pfeiffer said, adding that she is looking forward to working with the students, who will be returning to school in grades 7 through 11, next year.
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