Faires, pixies and forlorn lovers are all part of the 20th anniversary of Gavilan College’s Summer Theatre Arts Repertory (STAR) program at El Teatro Campesino in San Juan Bautista.
But the children’s theatre program, which traditionally puts on classic American musicals at Gavilan, is putting a twist on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Alterations have been made to the Bard’s original text to make it more kid-friendly: Extensive monologues have been broken down into more manageable pieces, Theseus is a Family Court Judge instead of a pompous king, and the play has been liberally spiced with fairy song-and-dance numbers. STAR has switched the focus of the play away from the four lovers lost in the woods and towards the fairy inhabitants, who are busy trying to plan a party but just can’t seem to get the pesky humans out of their hair.
Despite editing, the script still provides a unique challenge to young actors who may have never dabbled in classical theatre before.
“It’s harder to learn your lines when you don’t know the language,” said 16 year old Cody Mendiola, who is playing Demetrius. “But I’ve been in theatre for nine years and I’ve always wanted to try Shakespeare. I grew up here in San Juan, so getting to perform at El Teatro is something I’ve dreamed of doing my whole life.”
The production boasts a cast of 31 students ranging in age from five to 16, with actors hailing from Hollister, San Juan, Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Watsonville. Over half of the actors are from Hollister’s summer enrichment program, many of whom have never set foot on stage before.
“When I was a kid, there was no theatre program available that was affordable,” said Director Javier Hurtado. “Sure, there are always scholarships, but just seeing that $400 cast fee really turns you off. I’m proud to be part of something that we can offer everyone in the community.”
“Some of these kids come to us with years of voice and dance training,” said Hurtado. “And some of them have none. Hardly any of them, however, have any experience with Shakespeare, and who better to introduce them to? They’ll be that much more prepared for any role they take on in the future.”
Local girl Mylah Smiley, 5 years old, says “Midsummer” is her first attempt at a full-length play.
“I learned how to tap dance, but I like this better,” she said. “Sometimes when you tap dance, you fall. I haven’t fell down here yet. It’s probably because I am a fairy in this play and I have wings.”
“It feels like I’ve blinked and all of a sudden STAR is 20 years old,” said Marilyn Abad-Cardinalli, the show’s producer who founded the program at Gavilan in 1985. “Luis Valdez (the founder of El Teatro Campesino) was enthusiastic about STAR and El Teatro celebrating their 20th and 40th anniversaries together, but he pushed us to do something different. We thought, if children can put together a musical in three weeks, they can certainly do Shakespeare. It’s been a lot of work for all of us, but being in a wonderful, creative space like this playhouse, with so much history, has really inspired everyone.”
If you go:
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is showing Saturday at both 2:30pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and $8 for children 12 and under, and can be purchased at directly from El Teatro Campesino or at www.ticketguys.com.
By Danielle Smith Staff Writer
