Interview #6 With the Cast of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

   You’re almost out of chances to catch the First Stage production of William Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

   It wraps up on Sunday - and we’re also down to our final interviews with the cast! Let’s hear from two of the Fairies who serve Titania, the Queen of the Fairies. Here’s Alexandra Biddle and Ellaina Hess: 

Q: What’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream about?

Alexandra: It is a story about children in the fight for love with a little magical twist on it.

Ellaina: A Midsummer's Night Dream is about two boys and two girls and they like each other but it's all mixed up and then the fairies come along and try to help, but it gets even more mixed up thanks to Puck. 

Q: Why did you want to be part of this show?        

Ellaina: I love Shakespeare and really wanted to get to perform in one of his plays. This has been a really fun opportunity for a kid my age! 

Alexandra: I love acting and I've never done a Shakespeare show before, so I wanted to come see what it was like and experience it!

Q: Was it difficult to learn the dialogue?

Alexandra: It was at first but once you kind of see it a couple times you really start understanding it.

Ellaina: It was a little bit difficult to learn the dialogue at first, but when you start acting out what it means, it really starts to make sense. It's a lot easier to understand when you actually do the play, not just try to read it! 

Q: What’s your favorite part of the show?               

Ellaina: My favorite part of the show is when Lysander is mixed up because Puck enchanted him and he thinks he's in love with Helena and Hermia slaps him! I also like the part where Hermia yells at Demetrius because she thinks he killed Lysander in his sleep, and she pushes Demetrius backwards. 

Alexandra: My favorite part is probably when Puck makes Bottom into a donkey using magic.

Q: Why would you recommend this show to our readers?            

Alexandra: It is a great show and, you really start to see the funny side of Shakespeare in it! 

Ellaina: I would recommend this show because it is both funny and dramatic, and it's fun to hear the way people talk in Shakespeare's time and cool when you actually start to understand what it is they are saying! I hope lots of people will come and enjoy the show! 

   Thanks, Alexandra and Ellaina!

  A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be presented at the Cabell County Public Library at 455 9th Street (3rd Floor) on Sunday, April 19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 each. To reserve tickets call 304-416-KIDS.