Sophomore Andrew Cook said describing this year’s spring play is simple.
“The best way to sum this play up is Shakespeare presented in the goofiest way possible,” Cook said.
The play, “I Hate Shakespeare,” explores numerous classics like “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet” and “Macbeth” with a witty and modern twist.
The play showcases familiar Shakesperean characters like Lady Macbeth and Othello alongside zombies, a modern day Juliet and even Jerry Springer.
Cook said it’s interesting how the play features both lighthearted and serious elements.
“It’s funny because you have silly segments like The Dating Game, Jerry Springer and Shakespeare in a Can. Then you have really solid, strict, straight-up Shakespeare like ‘Hamlet,’” he said.
Senior Jadyn Flory, who plays Hamlet, agrees.
“It is silly and goofy and unpredictable,” she said. “But it’s a beautiful play with amazing actors.”
Play director Lisa Moffitt chose this play because it had something for everybody.
“We wanted to do something that we could incorporate lots of different kids into a variety of roles,” she said.
The 50 roles in the play are divided among 18 actors. Senior Audrey Mach plays four roles: Queen Gertrude, King, Traditional Juliet and Lady Macbeth.
“I go from a woman who gaslights her husband, commits murder and kills herself, to a 14-year-old girl,” Mach said. “You don’t get any more contrast than that.”
Mach said changing costumes between scenes is the hardest part.
“I need to know how much time I have to change, and I need to have people back there to help me because the costumes are difficult,” she said.
However, Mach enjoys being in a play with so many roles because it gives people more opportunity to participate.
“I really like that Ms. Moffitt chooses shows with such flexibility so that if people don’t want to go out for it, we can make up for it. But if lots of people go out for it, we have so many roles and so many possibilities,” Mach said.
Moffitt said she’s confident in the cast to put on a good show.
“They’re really, really talented,” she said.
Mach encourages everyone in the community to come see the play.
“This is probably one of the shows everybody is going to enjoy,” she said. “It’s for Shakespeare lovers, people who love literature, people who want to enjoy themselves, people who love comedy.”
Moffitt is excited for audiences to experience all of the funny twists and turns the play has to offer. The 70-minute performance is at the Performing Arts Center.
“It’s a short evening out, but it will be filled with a lot of laughs and surprises,” Moffitt said.
Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 8), 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the door and will be $5 for students and $8 for adults.
Reach reporter Ryn Drummond at [email protected].
If you appreciate our coverage, please donate. Our newspaper depends on your donations to provide coverage of Eudora and continue providing local news.
To donate to support our community journalism, please go to this link.
