“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare was presented by the drama department at Gorham High School during the week of Nov. 10 through 12. There were four performances over the three days.

Performing Shakespeare is always a challenge. The language is sophisticated and complicated and the plots are always intricately interwoven. Despite this, the students successfully met the challenge. These superbly trained and directed thespians not only knew their lines but controlled the action with their bodies, facial expressions, and physicality. They all delivered outstanding performances.

The story centers around the interplay of four groups of characters: The Duke’s Circle, The Lovers, The Mechanicals (tradesmen by day, actors by night), and The Fairies. The four distinct factions are introduced, and their stories quickly merge and become entangled. The fairies complicate the story using spells and magic to have mortals fall in love. Puck confuses the entanglements before getting it right in the end and resolving the situation in a satisfying way.

Nick Tinkham dominated the stage through his performance as Puck. His comic timing and physicality captured the essence of the mythical being who complicates the action of the story. In addition, the lovers, Aera Hyson (Hermia), Logan Mills (Lysander), Emma Smith (Helena), and Zack Waters (Demetrius), excellently conveyed the emotions of their characters.

Performances by Noah Williams as Theseus and Cece Dellosso as Nick Bottom stood out, as they met the challenges of long speeches and, in the case of Cece, the challenge of a large animal mask. Each of the twenty-two actors presented excellent performances, while the crew of ten students professionally and quickly managed all the props and scene pieces.

The production was directed by English teacher Josie Tierney-Fife. She chose to set the show in the early 1970s and the music and costuming added to the atmosphere of the story. Ms. Tierney-Fife was able to bring out the best in her actors. The set, designed and constructed by Peter Tierney-Fife and aided by Ben Scott, added to the success of the show. Each component of the show, the set, the lighting, the sound, the costuming, and the organized effort by the backstage crew, coordinated together to triumphantly conquer the challenge of a Shakespearian play.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was an excellent show that was enjoyed by the audiences. It is important to support and attend GHS stage productions. They are always well directed, professionally produced, and thoroughly entertaining. We can look forward to “Mama Mia,” the school musical in February and the One Act state-wide competition in March.