Walking into the backstage of the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre is like falling down the rabbit hole and landing into the theatre’s own personal brand of wonderland.
No longer does it feel like the usual surroundings of students and stress, but instead, as if time has stopped and you have been transported into their design of magical mayhem.
Sounds are coming from all angles, people yelling to each other what they need completed, a vine of flowers springing from the main stage aisles, paint flying from brushes, and above all, smiles from each person you come into contact with. Quite quickly, it’s apparent that the students have merged with the play they are putting on, creating an air of blissful magic.
William Shakespeare’s comedic classic, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” is underway at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, set to premiere Wednesday.
The story centers on four lovers, a group of wacky actors and some extremely mischievous fairies.
Directed by Kent Smither, the play is set to open with a bang, being the largest production so far into the theatre’s fall lineup.
Despite the challenge, Smither said the experience of working with such a big cast has been quite thrilling.
“I’ve got 27 people in the show, and they all bring special gifts to it,” he said. “I’ve been very, very fortunate to have all the right people show up to audition. What can I say?”
Smither was inspired to direct the play due to the overall message it sends, but more so, because of the theme that incorporates people of all backgrounds coming together.
“We all have something to offer, and we can all learn from each other, but no one wants to stop and listen; they just want to be angry, it feels like,” he said.
With a rigorous schedule, practices were done five times a week, for up to three or three-and-a-half hours.
Theatre performance freshman Donovan Luevano, who plays one of the lovers, Lysander, describes his experience with Shakespearean language as a challenge he’s had to overcome.
“This is my first Shakespeare performance that I’ve ever been a part of,” Luevano said. “So, getting used to the language of old Shakespearean English was a challenge.”
To prepare his role of the noble, he researched other Shakespeare performances in order to get the hang of the speech and physical tidbits actors do on stage.
Luevano was able to get into character by identifying with his role, saying, “We’re just teenage boys looking for love, and everything is so dramatic.”
Theatre performance sophomore Devin Rivera got into his role of Francis Flute by getting into the character’s emotional and psychological mindset.
“I kind of write down what I feel my character is going through, because my character has lost someone in the past and I try to implement that into when I’m acting, and that especially shows in the end,” Rivera said.
He describes his character as someone he relates to due to their similarities in personality.
“He’s an introvert, but very open-minded,” Rivera said.
The play includes an original score written by Edinburg native Julian Ramirez.
Ramirez spent a lot of time collaborating with Smither in order to create the musical mood they wanted to set for audiences.
“We sat together a lot and just bounced ideas off each other,” Ramirez said. “We kind of want people to feel, like, they walk in, and they walk out, but not into the same world, you know. They walk out with different eyes or rose-colored classes, inspired to do good.”
The costumes for the show were designed by Jennifer Saxton, head of theatre production and costume lab manager, and are based in the Regency England era.
Design drafts go back to April and started being produced in shop by students early last month.
Saxton saw the play as an exciting opportunity for student designers and technicians due to the historical costumes they get to create in the workshop.
She and Smither were inspired by differences and wanted to incorporate that theme into the overall designs. “There’s a wonderful thing in all of our differences,” Saxton said.
What she’s most excited about?
“I’m dying to see what an audience makes of it, because we’ve lived with it so long,” she said.
If you, too, want to get thrust into the magical world UTRGV Theatre has fashioned, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will run at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday in the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre on the Edinburg campus. General admission is $15 and $5 for UTRGV students, faculty and staff with ID.
Fall down the rabbit hole, you won’t regret it.
