Veronika Kondratieva

Texas State's Theater Department is performing its last show of the semester. This time a literary classic serves as inspiration. Bobcat Update's Veronika Kondratieva has more on the story.


Stand Up: "It wouldn't be theater without Shakespeare. And with the upcoming holidays, Theater Department decided to delight the audience with one of the Bard's most popular comedies – A Midsummer Night's Dream." SB: "It's a beautiful play, it's a romantic play, it's a funny funny funny play, lots of clowning and farce in it as well and lots of intrigue." (Play Director Chuck Ney, 11 sec.)
The lighthearted play is more than 400 years old. And the production crew wanted to stay true to the classic text. But some modern elements were added to the production.
SB: "All the way throughout we have this constant communication or comments between a 400-hundred-year-old script and today." (Ney, 9 sec.)
The production is also the largest costume show of the semester. And it has a cast of 26 people. The actors had some challenges. They had to go through difficult articulation exercises to convey Shakespeare's language. And they even had to learn some flying tricks to show the magic elements of the play.
SB: "We are taking all those elements and those themes that are within the text and then bringing them to life on the stage so it's a phenomenal visual piece." (Actor Kailyr Frazier, 9 sec.)
The play will run through Sunday at the Harris Theater. Ney says this play has a specific effect on viewers.
SB: "I think it will tickle them, I think it will transport them places too. Romance is at the heart of it and I think that's really good for people right now in our world." (Ney, 17 sec.)
Cast member Brianna Ripkowski says seeing the play also helps people grow culturally.
SB: "When you revisit the classics that in itself brings back a freshness of the past of our ancestors. It's a good way to freshen up our contemporary style." (Actress Brianna Ripkowski, 12 sec.)
Stand Up: "Shakespeare once said all the world is a stage. And I can't wait to see his world on this stage. For Bobcat Update, I'm Veronika Kondratieva."