The Perryville High School Drama Department’s Silver Dagger Players are set to take the stage with one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved works, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nov. 6–8 at 7 p.m. at the Perry Park Center.
Tickets are $7 for the performances, which promise an evening of laughter, magic, and mischief.
Director Jennifer Birk-Cook, who adapted the play along with the cast, said this production holds special meaning for her.
“This will be my 50th show at PHS, which seems crazy to me, but I really want a good turnout for it!” she said.
The romantic comedy, often described as Shakespeare’s wildest and funniest, intertwines the stories of four young lovers, a group of bumbling amateur actors, and a band of mischievous fairies. From love potions gone wrong to mistaken identities and enchanted mischief, the play celebrates the unpredictable nature of love and imagination.
“The kids have worked incredibly hard to make this one of our most entertaining shows yet,” Birk- Cook said, describing the play as “not serious Shakespeare” but “his funniest, craziest comedy — full of misunderstandings, love potions, and spells being cast in the forest.”
The talented student cast features Brayden Wright as Theseus, Hunter First as Egeus, Marcas Smith as Lysander, Jared Stortz as Demetrius, Lynlea Seabaugh as Hermia, and Eloise Bollinger as Helena. Riley Kemp and Abby Bridges lead the fairy realm as Oberon and Titania, while Chloe Cox takes on the role of Puck, Shakespeare’s impish agent of chaos.
Comic relief comes from a crew of enthusiastic tradespeople turned actors — including Emma Fetterhoff as Bottom, Raegan Mattingly as Quince, and Mackenzie Southard as Snug — whose hilariously earnest attempts at theater provide some of the play’s most memorable moments.
Birk-Cook also designed the costumes and set for the production, assisted by stage manager Ryleigh Schulein and backstage assistant Kodin Cairns. For Birk-Cook, who has led Perryville High School’s drama program for decades, this golden milestone production is both a personal and artistic celebration. “It’s amazing to look back at all the students, shows, and memories over the years, ” she said. “But what keeps me going is the excitement these kids bring to the stage. They make it all worthwhile.”
