Note: This blog must be posted by midnight Thursday night, April 2. Then you are free to have a relaxing spring break.
Write about your reactions to the performance we saw on Sunday of A Midsummer Night's Dream. There is much to write about, so don't write the same thing that someone else writes about. Examples of debatable points you might make:
"Operas in English work better than other languages."
"I love the sound of the counter tenor."
"The setting in the school was very effective."
"Puck works well as a spoken part."
"Operas in smaller theaters are better than in big theaters."
These are only a few examples of a point you might make and then use specific details to support your point of view. Create your own debatable point and defend it. Make it interesting.
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62 comments:
Mandi DeLaVergne
Period 6
In my opinion, this version of a Midsummer Nights Dream was not to great. I did not enjoy the classroom setting very much, because it was very confusing to follow with the language that the opera uses. However, they did use creative ways to portray the characters, such as the children being the fairies.
I really liked the other versions better, because they seemed to fit more with how the people were talking. The only thing that was really nice about this opera was that it was in English, so it was a lot easier to follow.
One thing that I did like about this version was the mechanical men. They were very entertaining, especially in the third act. I also liked the character Bottom. He was a very good actor and portrayed the ass very nicely.
Lastly, this opera had a lot of hidden, blunt humor that I enjoyed, such as the actor playing the wall, and the man dressed as a woman. That was also very entertaining. There were also a lot of immature sexual references that kept the crowd going.
Nathan Zimmerman, Per. 6
This version of A Midsummer Nights Dream done in Opera form I thought was pretty interesting despite a few low points that I noticed. I thought that the first act and the second were the lower points of the opera but the third was definitely engaging and certainly funny. The immature humor added an interesting dimension to the mystical feeling of the first two acts. One of the cooler aspects of the stage were all the ways that the characters could enter view. I found it interesting when Puck would enter through the ceiling window and shout an exclamation or when Oberon would creep through the windows on the right side. The last point about the stage that i liked was the transparent screen in the back that the fairies sat behind. I don't particularly think that the opera would have been worse in another language because it is still sometimes difficult to understand what the performers are saying. Lastly, to be honest, i think that the character of Oberon fit well with the counter tenor voice because his personality slightly resembles that of a pedophile, like we discussed in class.
Selena Swaim, per. 2
I don’t really understand why it took place in a school setting. I think it should have developed more of a school-related story line because some things didn’t fit. With Shakespearean language, a few things can’t really be applied in the school setting. For example, when they are lying by the “banks” or Puck is being told to run through the woods.
The character of Bottom did a great job acting like a real “ass”. His body movements resembled the donkey well. For example he kept his fists clenched to resemble hooves and he moved less human and more animal. I didn’t like the way the director chose to remove the donkey head. I think it should have been done off stage like the way it was initially placed. It would have been more realistic than actually watching Puck pull of the head and throwing it behind the door.
I also didn’t like the directors choice to move where the bodies of the four lovers were lying (from the end of Act II to the beginning of Act III). They started out on the pillows and tables and ended on the bench thing stage right. They unlikely would move in there sleep so I thought this detail was unrealistic. (I can see why he would chose to do this though, in order to open the stage up).
Something that was delivered through the opera that I didn’t get as well in the reading (or even in the other movies), was the humor in the mechanicals. It was hilarious to see how uncreative and literal they perceived their own play with the wall and moonshine. Also, watching how Helena looked chasing down Demetrius emphasized how pathetic it was. Much better than just in the reading
In the music I thought the string instruments gave off that eerie feeling to go with Oberon’s character/voice category.
Part of the stage that I liked was the use of the high windows. It was a good way to have the character’s peer over the rest.
Matt MacDougall
per 4
of all of your outstanding debatible points, mr schindler, i would have to say that i believe that "Operas in smaller theaters are better than in big theaters." I believe that this point is correct becuase with a smaller theatre because it gives your more of a personal experience. Also it makes you feel like you are in the play. and gives you more of a better experience. With all these topics i believe that my statement has therefore increased the porbablilty of winning the argument. Thank you mr schiendler
Kyle Glaser
Period 2
I thought the opera that we saw this sunday was amazing and was much better than I thought it would be. The children were an interesting touch and were very good singers, but I was confused as to why the teachers were running away from the administration. That part was unclear to me because there was no point for them to run away and why Hermia was under her "fathers" law to not marry lysander since the father was a principle.
I also thought it was interesting how you talked about Oberon being a creepy and scary character and we did not believe you but after seeing the opera, Oberon is a very creepy character since he sings so high and just creeps around the stage.
I also liked the small stage feel but I did not like to sit so close to the stage since you had to look up so high to see the words and then had to look back down to see the actors.
Overall it was an amazing opera and it was my favorie thing we have seen this year.
A midsummer nights dream was actually a really different kind of opera. I felt as if we were watching a play but they were singing instead of speaking where the other operas were more singing than acting so much. But i think this is because they had to make so much more out of their characters in this one then the others they really had to get into their parts wether it was being really cruel and creepy or envious all of their movements and every little action they did really added to their performance. i did think that the first act was kinda slow and confusing. they did cut out a lot so i was just trying to piece all the little things together that they choose to show.I did like how the setting was all white though i feel that the simpleness of it made it easier to imagine all the things they were using for real world and dream/fairy world like using the windows and closet instead of the doors. I also didn't think Oberon was very creepy looking he was just kinda plain and i was expecting him to be more dark but he acted creepy so that helped a little. I think that puck did a good job but his accent kinda confused me sometimes or more caught me off guard you could say. i did think he was good though. My favorite part of the opera was the end though when they did the play probably because it was the funniest part i loved the druken wall and i also liked bottom i thought that those characters were very good and putting the comedy into it and made that act the best. Another thing that is found interesting was that they put so many little sexual references in there that were actually really funny. Overall i think it wasn't bad i definitely enjoyed the third act the best though because of all the comedy and a great way to end the Opera.
tia bailey p.4
personally when i first saw the play it came off a little harry potterish. with the big giant striped scarfs and boarding school jackets. But other than that i thought that it was pretty good. Titania's hair was a little intense, with all the blue and how high it was put up, but her acting skills made up for that. She had an amazing voice, holly moley that was fantastic. Puck was really funny, and with oberons voice, it actually went with his character. i really liked being in the center and front, it gave me a whole new experience and i thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Andrew Song period 6
I thought the version of Midsummer Nights Dream that we watched was not as good as the movie version at all. The whole classroom setting was not well done at all and the play itself was not modified at all to match the setting. The movie was much better in my opinion because it was set in an appropriate time for the opera.
Talia Cowan per 6
Seeing the Midsummer Nights Dream as an opera was very interesting. The different voice types for each part was interesting to hear. Added color to the whole story. But what i found interesting was that either by choice of the director or the composer, the part most emphasized was the counter tenor, Oberon. I don't quite agree with this because it makes the story seem more of a dominating story, rather than a story of love. The opera overall wasn't affected this way, but at the parts where he was by himself or with one or two others, it more seemed like Oberon was trying to take the other individualls into him in any way possible. It truely was kinda creepy, but as I said, the opera wasn't affected.
Rebecca Taicz
Period 6
The voice parts for the various actors of A Midsummer Night's Dream worked very well.
Oberon strikes me as a very arrogant character, who takes great stock in his title of King of the faries. To emphasize this in the opera, i believe that either a counter tenor or a bass would be a good choice. A Counter tenor emphasizes his seperation from all the other characters of the play, while a bass would emphasize his almost cruel lack of the basic human emotions such as guilt for tricking his wife into sleeping with an ass.
Puck having the only speaking part in the opera was also very effective. On one hand he is a model for the other more powerful characters to mold, such as Oberon, while still remaining a true trickster at heart. Rather than like Oberon, who enjoys fooling other people to get revenge or for other nefarious purposes, or like the other main fairy Tytania who makes trouble due to her stubborn possessiveness, Puck makes trouble because he finds it fun and amusing. He is seperate from the other fairies, in that he means true ill will to no one, but still wrecks more damage than anyone else and yet comes out of the play with the audience's favor in tact.
Were I to choose, I would actually have Tytania be a lower voice, to show her queenly status. She has a more stubborn personality, and I feel needs a stronger voice. But suprisingly, Tytania's voice worked in our performance, perhaps because when mixed with the modernization, which put Tytania in a more "punk" costume and gave her a more forceful stage personality, her voice being higher complimented it.
Phillip Foshee
period 6
I really enjoyed my experiance at the opera this past sunday. I was a bit hesitent about if i was going to like it or not based on the two movies we saw in class. I ended up likeing it quite alot and liked how they had it take place in a school. I think that opera is done better in english becuase for me atleast it is much easyer to follow. When operas are in foregin languiges it makes it much more difficult to understand. Being new to opera and just learning about it this year i have quite a difficult time following the charecters and their actions. One thing i really liked about this play was that the charecters had allot of energy and made me really excited to see the next act. When the performers use allot of body languige it really makes the expereance more enjoyable to watch. Overall i had a great time and would come back again.
Melissa Nimon
Period 2
My favorite piece of theatre actually might be A Midsummer Nights Dream. I have seen the play version at least six different times so I was excited to see the opera version. At first I was a little skeptical about the counter tenor, but I ended up really liking how it sounded and what it did for the character. I feel like if he had been low it would have been weird, where as the high pitch of his voice was very beautiful and fairy like. I was really glad to see Puck in aviators; he looked fine! It was excellent to see Robin Goodfellow as this trouble making kid that went to the school. Actually the whole hierarchy of the older classman and the teachers/headmaster was extremely clever. The teachers sneaking around in the school after hours was a nice touch. The set was really white which I suppose allowed for use of color in lighting, that being said (I don't want to step on any toes as far as criticizing professionals but,) the lighting was weird for me. I liked the blue hues that appeared but it wasn't consistent as far as keeping certain colors associated with certain characters and locations. The whole tree gobo was weird for me because they are supposed to be in a classroom not a forest in this version. However, dreams are weird and sometimes cannot be explained, thus tree shadows in a classroom is fine because it does disassociate from reality. Overall I really enjoyed it, and am a little curious to see how the other actors for certain parts portray their roles, so I will probably go see it again.
Cristina Rice
Period 2
This opera was probably my favorite performance we have seen this year. I really liked Puck, I like how he was played in this opera better than the others. I liked how he had that kind of evil, bad boy look to him. A lot I liked that his part was spoken instead of sang because it made the opera more real, and he even talked on cue with the music, so it still sounded rhythmic and not like the sound was out of place. I think it made him kind of different than everyone else and it just worked really well. Puck is also what you could say lower than everyone else. Like Oberon is leader, and everyone is kind of a main character, and he is but he's kind of more behind the scenes guy. Also I thought the aviators made it work perfectly to give him the bad boy edge.
Megan Lowry Per 2
Out of all the prompts, the one about Puck speaking stood out to me the most. Earlier, when we were sutdy Midsummer, we learned that Britten made Oberon a counter-tenor part because he wanted to make the character seem other worldly. However, I though Puck seemed more 'other worldly' in this production becuase he was the only one who was not singing. Even though Oberon's voice was strange, it still seemed a part of the opera, since he was singing. But Puck's character is so different than the other characters of the play that he needed something complelety different. Puck is not just a character- he's a catalyst. He's what makes the play (or opera) really move along, and yet he is never really changed by any of it himself. At the end of the play, his character hasn't gained or lost anything, and his expereinces don't seem to teach him anything. He's still the same Puck. So that's why I think the speaking part was perfect, because it made the character seem everlasting, unchangable, and incomparable. His lines were rythmic enough that they didn't seem totally out of place either. Overall, I thought giving Puck a spoken part was the most effective voice category that he could have.
Dan Reisz P6
A Midsummers Nights Dream was my favorite performance of the year so far for many reason. I thought that the setting in a school was interesting and a fun interpertation of the story, I thought the characters were well cast for their parts. I thought Puck was very fit in his roll, and like this adeptation of Puck the most, over the teo movies we saw. I also enjoyed being in a smaller theater becuase it made me feel closer to the action and it was more inviting to the veiwers.
Preston Longoni Period 4
I thought the performance we went to was the best Opera yet(Servant of Two Masters was my favorite overall performance). I personally thought the counter tenor voice of Oberon fit well with the character and his part in A Midsummer Night's Dream, but I dislike the high voice itself, as it comes from a male. I thought the school setting was confusing at first, I had no idea what was going on and who was who, but it ended up pretty good in the end. Its amazing how different point of views are taken of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and they all work out. The forest settings we watched in both of the movies was more along the lines of what I expected the performance to take place. I thought it was funny how the plant that was put in the characters eyes in the movies, was nail pollish in the Opera. My favorite part was the play the funny men put on, specifically the wall part. The fairies were awesome, they could really sing, I was impressed. I also liked the part when the faires played instruments. The fact the opera was in English made it that much more enjoyable, even thought it's still hard to follow and figure out what they are singing. The script above the stage helped alot I was looking at that often.
I loved how the opera was in a small theater and so close in Bellvue.
Megan Housekeeper
Period 6
I thought that the school setting suprisingly worked for A Midsummer Nights Dream. I had no clue how they were going to be able to keep all of the same words and place it in a completely different and modern setting but I thought it was pretty effective. Of course we went into it knowing a lot about the play so it was easier to follow but the school was a really interesting interpretation. The groups of characters was very interesting and seemed really well thought through, the older students; Puck being the rebel, Titania, the typical bad girl, and Oberon, the scheming creepy teenager. The children as fairies was also very effective and thought that it was very clear all these characters were practically a seperate world from the teachers and staff. I was weary at first but it worked and went very smooth.
Michelle Le
period 2
This was probably my favorite opera we have seen so far. But I still don't think that the school setting made any sense.... that was definitely a major bummer to me. I mean, I understand that what happens in the story is a bit like high school, with all the funny stuff that goes on between the lovers. But other than that I didnt think the school setting was very good at all. I mean, why do all the students sleep in the classrooms??? And why would Hermia and Lysander get tired and have to take a break if they'd only been through a classroom??? They were nowhere near escaping Athens! They should have changed the sets or something. And I was a little confused about whether the fairies had magic or not, since they were kids. But other than that, I liked the opera. Being in a smaller theater, and being closer to the actors was beneficial because we could see their expressions better. It gives the opera a lot more life, when you can actually see their facial expressions. I also thought the Mechanicals' play was absolutely hilarious! Especially the wall. It had a lot of sexual connotations to it that I wasn't expecting.
Kenna Campbell
Period 6
I do believe that while operas in other languages may be cooler to hear and different they do work better in english. One of the things that bothers me about operas the most is having to look up at the translation board and then I end up missing the body language and for the most part get lost in what is happening. This makes it hard for me to concentrate on the opera and usually follows in me sleeping or getting side tracked. Although this opera was good for me because for the most part I was there the whole way. I could understand a large majority of it and I could find the humor in it and follow the story line better. When Oberon and Puck were talking I could understand and be able to look at the funny expressions that Puck was making through out the opera. That is why I believe it just works better in English.
Kristina Thorson
per 2
I really enjoyed this performance of A Midsummer Nights dream. I really enjoyed the contralto, and the higher pitch of the voice. I thought it was really cool to see someone who worked so hard to keep his voice different from all other male voices in opera. I was disappointed with some aspects. Such as the flow of the opera. It seemed choppy and very cut up. The setting of the opera was wonderful. I loved how it was set in a classroom rather then in the woods. It was easier to relate it to todays society and high school drama and such. I really enjoyed the play in a play at the end. I thought the costumes of this performance were very creative and fit in perfectly with the set and the plot of the story.
Brendan Cox
Period 2
In my opinion the opera was not as good as the first movie we watched in class. I did not enjoy it as much but i did enjoy the atmosphere of being next to a stage. This play had many elements that i did and did not appreciate. All in all i probably would not go see this same performance but I am still looking forward to future events. The English was good even though there were words that were sometime s hard to understand. I definately was not a big fan of the higher male singing voices.
Erika Hodges per. 2
I loved seeing this piece in a small theater. You could see everyone and hear everything and it was just really entertaining. I thought Puck worked very well as a spoken part because you have something to focus on and the other people/fairies are more important than him so they by default have prettier voices to show social class. Puck is very important though because he does Tytania and Oberon's bidding and keeps the story flowing. If Puck is not in the foreground, he is messing with something in the background and making mischief to enhance the story, that is why Puck is best as a spoken part.
Evan Norris
Per. 6
I didn't like the Opera form of a Midsummer Nights Dream. The class setting made it confusing to follow even with watching and reading other forms of it. I felt Puck was better as a spoken part because he was supposed to be a sneak. The janitors were entertaining, and Bottom was acted out well. On the other hand the counter tenor was awkward and was confusing to the ear to think that it was actually a man singing the part.
Spencer Asavadejkajorn
Period 4
The performance we saw over the weekend of a midsummer nights dream was very delightful. the characters played their parts very well. particularly puck. he was funny and all over the place. Tytania was some fire as well. my favorite aspect of it had to be te music. i think its crazy that they play along with a live performance and dont mess anything up. if the rhythem is off it could ruin the whole performance. I especially liked the harp. during one of the intermissions i watched the man play it a bit and it seems crazy how many strings he has to keep track of and hit all of them and the right time and position. it also sounds excellant.
Mackenzie Engel
Period 6
Despite what other people in class expressed, I felt that Oberon's character was one of the better in the opera we attended. I imagined his presence from the play to be somewhat unnerving or even disturbing. However, in the movies we watched i did not find Oberon evil or creepy enough. His demeanor in the play was very effective and exactly what I imagined him to be in the play. There was something about the way he leered at people through somewhat squinty eyes lined with black eye liner that made him extremely creepy. Also, his interaction with the little children added to the creepy factor. In addition to all of his physical characteristics, his counter tenor voice that he sang in during the opera also gave him a devilish feel.
Jinny Kim
Period 4
I thought the opera version of lid summer night's dream was pretty interesting. It was very different than the movie that we saw in classroom, but the one thing that I did not like was following the language. I also thought the small theater makes me get more into the play that we see. I really like all of the music of the play. Also I really like the character "puck" because he was really funny. I really enjoyed it.
Alyssa De Hoop Period 4
The opera of Midsummer Nights Dream was not my favorite. However, there were parts that I did enjoy. I thought Puck worked as a spoken role. It was good to have that contrast instead of all singing. I also thought he was a great actor, very nice physicality. The mechanicals did a great job as well. I specifically loved the play in act three. The children's choir were enjoyable as well.
I did not enjoy it because I did not really like the music. I mean operas are great and Shakespeare is great, but those two things together are not so incredible, for me at least. I also did not understand the relevance of the setting in the class room. I did arrive late and missed the pantomime in the beginning so perhaps that would have made it more clear to me. I still think it was a creative idea and nice try, but it seemed out of place to me. It was confusing to hear the singers talking about being in the forest while they were actually in a building. Also because of the setting the whole story of the mechanicals did not make sense. The actors, however, did use their space well. I did not like the countertenor either. He just seemed very creepy and annoying. After listening to him in class today on youtube I did enjoy his voice more. So maybe I did not like it because of the kind of music he was singing, but I am still not a fan of countertenor. I also thought the wardrobe choice was not as affective as it could have been. Hermia and Helena did not look as "professional teacher" as they should have. The sandals were a clever choice of shoe, but it seemed irrelevant. I also did not like Tytania.
Kaiti Staup Period 4
I thought that performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream was very entertaining. I think I enjoy watching the performances of the younger singers more than the professionals because they seem more realistic and less unattainable. My favorite performer was the girl who payed Tatiana not only because of her voice but also the way that she interacted with the other performers. I thought that the music was great and I loved how Puck was so in sync with the music during his speaking role.
Regan McComb p.6
I don't really like the sound of the counter tenor but i think it is an effective voice because it catches your attention and is easy to pay attention to rather than just a normal tenor. I don't think the school setting was appropriate for a Midsummer Night's Dream because it was kind of random and they stretched it to make it fit with the play. I enjoyed the blunt humor though such as the drunk wall. That was very entertaining and enjoyable. I liked Puck as a spoken part because it kind of mixed up the traditional opera and he was very talented at speaking with the music. I didn't like Oberon because he wasn't how i pictured it. Overall it was a pretty good opera, but definitely not what i had expected.
Kayla Aldridge
Period 6
Out of all the operas we have been too this was probably my favorite one. I really liked the school setting and how everyone entered through the windows, i thought that was interesting take to the performance. It was easy for me to follow and by far the most entertaining opera we have been to. I enjoyed the blunt humor incorporated into the opera how ever I didn't find the drunk wall as funny as everyone else did. I thought the fairies did a very good job and I surprised with how well they could sing for such a young age. Overall I enjoyed the Opera.
Sam Bellefeuille
Period 6
The play that we attended on Sunday was by far my favorite so far. I think that is mainly because we watched the movie and discussed it so much in class that I could follow it really easily and i didnt get lost like i would in other plays or performances. The begining of the play sort of confused me at first, but as it progressed i realized that the concept behind the school, and the kids being the faries etc. Also i thought it was really funny, and i liked they way the actors seemed to be having fun while they were performing. furthermore, i thought that Puck was pretty cute, but i think that him and Oberon should have switched parts because Puck seemed to be more 'bad ass' than Oberon was. Also the dog at the end with the moon light guy, was so cute! over all i would actually go to this play again, because i did really enjoy it.
Zoe Thiemann
Period 6
The the setting in the school was very effective. It was different than I expected and was modern so it made it entertaining for our age group. The school setting also made it very funny, it added humor to many of the jokes made and I really enjoyed it. Personally though, i prefer a larger theater. I think small ones are very cute an d you can feel more involved, but personally i just feel like the larger theater is more fun and makes the experience different and special. Overall though i loved it and thought the performance as a whole and Puck was so funny. The immaturity was great!
Bryttany Enge, Period 6
With all honesty I disliked the opera more than I liked opera. I say this because I did enjoy the play within the play at the very end of the opera. What I did not like about the opera were the characters of Oberon and Titania. Oberon’s character I don’t think worked well for the opera. I pictured Oberon to me more masculine and tyrant-like. In the opera, Oberon seemed to be wimpy and more feminine. The counter-tenor definitely contributed to this characterization of Oberon being wimpy, however other qualities of the opera’s Oberon created this wimpy-ness such as his small structure. With Titania, I expected a sweeter, less bold character. She seemed to put out and I pictured her to be softer like the movies we watched. What I did like from the opera was the play within the play scene. This scene was very funny, very entertaining and I thought the director did very well in portraying it. The wall and his drunkenness was perfect for this scene. The wall was my favorite character along with Thisby. Thisby was also very funny and I thought the actor did very well in singing off key and portraying an ugly woman, just like Shakespeare intended.
Alex Garcia
Period 6
The debatable point i am going to focus on is the one saying "the setting in the school was very effective." The reason i liked the school as a setting was because everytime a fairy or mythical creature entered it was either through the closet door or through a window and whenever a mortal entered the setting it was through one of the main doors. I liked this underlying theme because it gave me something to think about and made a lot of sense to me. It also set up the different groups very well while making the janitors the rude mechanicals, the fairies being students, and the main characters such as lysander, hermia, etc. being teachers. The school made a good representation/interpretation of shakespeares original ideas and was a great interesting portrayal using a more recent theme.
Leticia Lopez Period 4
Ok. so i liked this version of "MidSummers Nights Dream". i like the classroom idea becasue it gave it like more of a modern twist, and with keeping the Shakespearean words it made it tight to see how they interpreted it. i liked what was it, the 2nd scene where they were are about to lay down and Hermia moved onto another table, but they were speaking like they were in the woods. i dont know why. it just made it more enjoyable to me, maybe its cuz ive always seen a classroom as this boring little thing, but they made it into something, i dont know magical i guess. i didnt really like the pantomiming part though in the beggining.It just kind of made me feel awkward. like everyone forgot their lines but they knew the motions. My one of my favorite parts was when the mechanicals came in to rehearse, and Bottom was acting like he could do all the parts cuz hes cool like that. This was like one of my favorite operas that we've been too. I liked the smaller theater because you felt like you could connect to the actor that was on stage. Oh yeah puck was tight to, he didnt sing but he flowed his voice with the music and was able to go with the flow..literally i guess.
Jessica Karr, p.4
Overall, I don't think I liked the interpretation of this particular performance. I felt like because it was a "young artists" performance, that they tried to make it more appealing to younger audiences. At many points, I thought they tried too hard, such as Puck having a mo-hawk and the fairy queen having bits of bright colored hair. All of the characters seemed to be trying too hard to be as modern as possible, when the dialogue and story is much older. I found myself having to translate the characters in the opera into who they were supposed to be in the play to really follow along with the story. However, I did feel that Oberon accurately and effectively fulfilled the feeling of the play. He was mystical, serious, but with a bit of strangeness, and seemed to fit more into the time period of the original play. I felt that Oberon and Bottom were just about the only singers that had voices that really matched their characters, although everyone did have very good vocals.
Christin Thrane
Period 4
I think a Midsummer night’s dream works better in play version. I feel like it took the focus away from the story, and also, opera singers do not make very good actors. I did, however, enjoy the music and liked listening to it. The fact that it was set in a border school setting definitely made it different and more modern, but I think it made the story less believable and gave them more restrictions than if they’d done it the classical way. The part that made the performance enjoyable for me was the quality of the singers. There were a few mistakes done by the children singing, but I liked that they included them. The part I didn’t get was when they were standing in the background with the lights on them. I thought that was more creepy than anything else. My favorite part of the opera was when they did the little play at the end. It was funny, but I think they could have shortened it a little bit, it kind of dragged on… Overall it was a good performance, but not my favorite so far.
Helen Wiltsey per. 4
I thought the use of children of faeries was an effective tool to create the feel of a Midsummer Night's Dream. Their smaller higher voices mimick what we perceive faeries would sound like, as well as the size difference between main characters and the children helps contrast their background/non-main characters. Also faeries are thought of as sort of impish and childlike anyways and the childrens facial expressions and basically truthful reactions to situations (like with Titania and Bottom as the ass) and also gives a sort of comic relief.
Trisha Hancock
Period 2
The Midsummer nights dream we saw was better then i expected. I wasn't sure how the school setting would be, but it wasn't that bad. They pulled it off, and it was more current for me, because of high school. The beginning was confusing, but when it got to the end of the second act and on it got better. Opera in english was better for me then an opera in a different language. At times though i'd have to look up to see what they were saying, but since it was in english i knew for the most part what they were saying and was able to follow along better. Different language operas for me are harder to follow because i'm looking up to see what part we are at, and to see what they are saying way more often. The smaller theater was better than bigger ones because your closer and it feels more personal in a way.
andy wolfe per, 2
I thought that A Mid Summer Nights Dream was a good opera, but it was a little too long for me. I think that it was better to have operas in english because then you can concentrate more on the play then looking up at the subtitles and then trying to watch the play as well. I think that it was helpful to watch and study the opera alot before we went to see it because there were some points in the opera that i was wondering what people were saying because i couldnt exactly make it out, but since i knew the play really well i could figure out what was going on even though it was a little different than what we watched. it was still pretty easy for me to figure it out. I also thought that the dog was the cutest thing i have seen! I was wondering how they were going to do it and i just figure that they would have someone dress up as a dog and just make it funny, but when i saw the dog i was so surprised and i thought it was really cool that they could do that and not have him run around everywhere and go wild. I also think that operas are better in smaller theaters than bigger because i feel like i am closer to the people and i can get more involved in the play or opera, rather than it be in a bigger theater where i kinda get lost and lose attention more unless were close to the stage. I though that Oberon was a little creepier in the opera than in the movies at some points. He was a lot different than i thought he was going to be also. I think that the setting at the school was okay, but i enjoyed it a lot when it was the settings in the movie for some reason, but i think that its cool how they can take an opera and make it be interpreted in different ways, and be able to make it in different settings and tell sort of a different story than others. Its cool that you can do that with some operas, rather than having to do it one way and never have the ability to get creative with it so people dont get old and bored with it. Overall i think that it was a good opera, just a little on the long side.
Clayton Butler
Period 2
A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Meydenbaur was a great performance. At first, I did not think that the school scene was going to work very well because when I think of A Midsummer Nights Dream, I think of fairys out in the woods and the scenes moving from in the city to in the woods. I think this is mainly because we saw the movie of this before we saw the opera. To tell you the truth, I ended up liking the scenery, it grew on me. Same with the counter tenor, at first I was hesitant because we heard an example from Jonathon but then once i saw the acting put together with the voice, it ended up working very well. I liked the mechanics and how they were janitors and stuff like that around the school, they played their parts very well. Over all, I enjoyed the opera of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Heather Thomas
Period 2
I enjoyed the performance on Sunday of A Midsummer Nights Dream although it was not as good as I was expecting. The classroom setting was interesting but it would not have been my first choice for a set of this play. The accent the actors were using was a little confusing for me. I couldn't tell what kind of accent it was and it was throwing me off the whole time.
My favorite characters were Puck and Bottom. Puck's attitude through out the play was very attractive and fun to watch. Bottom, at first, was not what I pictured as the man who would play the character of Bottom. As the play went on the actor did a fantastic job of filling the role and was by far the funniest character in the play.
The children in the play probably impressed me the most simply because they're just kids and they could sing the way they did.
Even though the play wasn't my favorite, I couldn't stop laughing in the last act where Bottom and his crew performed the play. It was extremely funny and unlike the rest of the play, just like I thought it would be.
Overall I liked the original movie we first watched in class (with Christin Bale). The setting seemed to match the play write perfectly and the characters were just as I pictured while reading the play in class.
Stephanie Bateman period 2
In the beginning of the opera it was hard for me to get into it because of a few of the directors choices. I didn't like puck's black nails and Tytania's blue hair. I thought as it went on it seemed to work, but in my opinion I think she works better as more of a "Fairy Queen" not a skank which is what she came off to me as. The school room kind of worked, I didn't really get the fact that the teachers were the ones in the "Love triangle" because it was so brief in the beginning. I liked Oberon, he played the character well, kinda creepy but he fit it well.
This being our first opera in English, I thought it would be easier to understand, but to be honest, at parts it was just as hard as if we were listening to a French opera. I found myself looking up at the subtitles ALOT.
My favorite part, as i'm sure is so for others was the little "play" put on by the mechanicals. It was entertaining and felt even more "play-like" even though it was sung. Bottom was easy and clear to understand while he was singing not to mention his character was perfect and halarious to watch. Although it was over 3 hours, after the first hour it sorta just started making more sense and I liked it. I think it helped that we watched other movies so i could follow along easily.
Gabe Gonzalez Period 2
I thought a Midsummer Nights Dream was enjoyable since it was presented in English and acted out in a boarding school setting. These features made the opera much easier to follow and understand since we did not have to read subtitles and could draw a better connection to the setting. I also thought Puck was much better as a spoken part since he was portrayed as the trouble maker and was behind many of the main issues of the story. This effect also made his voice and his actions more understandable for the audience.
Sarah Jane Elliott
Period 2
I thoroughly enjoy Benjamin Britten's opera "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Being that it's one of my favorite Shakespeare plays I was quite skeptical about it. I thought it'd be a great opera, but I thought it was odd that everyone but Puck was singing. I figured because Puck is so magical and mysterious that he should have a high tenor voice and sing many arias and have several haunting duets with Oberon or Tytania. I also thought that since Puck was a speaking role he really had to be a great actor because Opera singers rely on their voice and don't usually act the part fully. In this show Puck had nothing to rely on, which is why he had to be a great actor. I thought the because Puck is basically the lead he should be an Opera singer too. I was greatly surprised to see that the Puck we had the opportunity of watching was spectacular. He really used his voice and body to create a magically person. I also that because he was a spoken role that he was almost in a whole other realm of fairies. Overall I really enjoyed David's performance (it also helps that he's really attractive.)
Kenny Exelby
Period 4
I thought that the counter tenors voice was interestin, however oddly disturbing as well. I know that it takes alot of skill and a ton of dedication to become an opera singer so I respect that but I dont like the sound at all. It was creepy the way he could sing in such a high voice as a an that old, but then we watched a movie in class and it explained that his voice had barely changed since he was a little boy, and that his voice type is semi rare. He makes a ton of money doing what he does and hes very good at it, but its just not for me. I respect him, and all the work hes done to get where he is today, but I didnt like his voice at all.
Sara McCallum
Period 6
Overall, this performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream was good. I think that the director's choice to use a classroom as the main setting was a good idea. It was dynamic enough so that the opera singers could use the stage to get you to believe that they were actually somewhere else. Since it was performed in a smaller theater, the characters were able to get better use of the whole stage and you could see what they were doing at all times. Making their fantasy world more real at times. For example, the way the singers used the tables to walk and sleep on makes you imagine that there is actually a path or ground underneath them. Plus, the way Oberon and Puck used the white board and chairs to stay hidden from the mortals from Athens, gives you the impression that they aren't actually in a classroom but outside where there are trees and bushes to hide behind. I liked how they made Puck speak throughout the performance, making him do that brings about a different perspective to the words and gives Puck a different type of character than all the others. It gives him more a narrative part in the piece than an actual main character. Making him seem more like an actual observer than a participant in the going ons within the main parts of the acts.
Shae Hurst
Period 6
I thought that setting a Midsummer Night's Dream in a school and concentrating on the more disturbing parts of Shakespeare's play made the opera really good. The fact that the set was very dark most of the time gave it all a very eerie feeling. I really liked how this opera made obvious all the perverse things in the the play. Oberon's obsession with the little boy, and Tytania's relationship with a donkey. By concentrating on the fairies activities the opera had a much darker tone. The movies we watched concentrated on the upper class people mainly and there stories are more focused on love. the fairies however are much darker and perverse so I thought that the choice of the opera to focus on the fairies was a good twist. The set was usually dark which helped to prove that the opera concentrated on the fairies. All in all I really liked how the fairies were the main focus of the opera because that gave the opera a different feeling than the play's we saw in class.
Karin Ochsner
Period 4
This opera was definetely the best performance i have seen all year. The story made a lot of sense. At first the school room really confused me because in the movies, it was placed in a jungle/forest. But after a while i understood. It was crazy how amazing the counter tenors voice was. I was in shock. Even though the opera was in english it really made no difference for me. It still sounded like a different language. Puck did work well as a speaking part. It gave the opera a little extra. Also operas in smaller theathers i believe are way better because you can almost be a part of the story and feel like you are right there.
Jacob Carpenter
PEriod 4
from my point of view in not being able to see the opera this last weekend cause of family issues. I would love to see the opera this weekend and i definatly hope i can make one of the times. i am very excited to see a opera in english, so possibly i can understand whats going on. have a great spring break mr. schindler
michael haines
period 4
i thought the setting of the play fit it perfectly. i liked how bottom and his crew was like he janitor and helpers of the school and how they gave each character in the play a certain role in the school. at first i didn't think it was going to work but as it went along it became more and more appealing. how they applied all the characters to the world that the school was in and also the world of the fairies blended very well. i really enjoyed the entire performance and it was easily my favorite of the year.
Joel Maltos
Per. 4
The counter tenor was money. At first I didn't really know what my reaction was to his voice because it was so awkward coming from a man, and not a women. But, now that i look back i realize that i was astonished by his powerful lady like voice. Of course he was that big time, amazing, new opera singer, so it didn't suprise me that he had such a beautiful voice. I hated the school setting with a passion. I couldn't even follow that opera because i had no idea who anyone was until the middle of the play. On top of this the state set up did not appeal to me, so overall i thought it was ugly. But the music of the opera was even better than i imagined, so i thought it was a great opera.
Chris Hong Period 6
I thought the opera was great. It was definitely a lot better than i thought. I really liked the setting of the play. Even though it was only one set it felt different every time they came out. The setting was very modern style and unifoms that children and characters wore were very preppy/modern also. I thought that was pretty cool. Overall the opera was really good and i enjoyed it. If there was one that that i kind of didn't like was the voice of the counter tener. It was kind of scary and maybe it was because i am not use to it.
Jamae coonts
P6
I think that puck voicing his parts rather than speaking them was a good idea. I think it seperated him from other characters which in my point of view is a good thing. In my eyes, I see puck as almost like a narrotator.
All in all I actually really liked this opera. I think it's the best one I've seen yet. Probably because of all the humor. It kept me entertained.
Andrew Kemis Period 6
While some may say the set was interesting they also may feel that the classroom was not an effective setting and did not completely work for portraying Midsummer Night's Dream. I feel that the classroom worked in every single way and was both interesting, effective, and functional. The windows were luring, mysterious pieces that were able to convey the mystery and usual actions one expects with mythical and magical creatures. The classroom was emphasized by the teachers and students who represented various characters because it allowed the audience to piece together who was who in an easier fashion. Grouping the students as around one age and the teachers another and representing Oberon and Titania as the older, upper class men was genius in my opinion and I really enjoyed this unique interpretation. The classroom was able to function as so many places because it holds characteristics that match the moods. The mystical fairy haven ties directly to classrooms at night. I certainly and I hope others have thought about what happens and comes out at night at schools. There is a huge amount of mystery that can be associated with schools and I believe that this production brought out all the potential of the operatic piece. The set worked amazing and that's the way I see it
Tess Opincarne
Period 6
I think English is the worst language for opera. Because we speak the language, we can hear when they are repeating words, and when they put odd emphasis on different syllables. I really just noticed how funny sounding it was instead of how beautiful the music was. It may have been just that it was from a text that I'm familiar with, and that hearing it so differently didn't agree with me, but I also thought the performance of Hansel and Gretel we saw just didn't sound as aesthetically pleasing as the others. However, because it was in English it was easier to focus on what was occuring on stage rather than having to read the translation on the projector. As a whole I just thought the performance wasn't pleasing to the senses, though it was performed effectively.
Andrew Pilgrim Period 4
At first, I was not sure about the whole setting in the school thing and whether or not that would work. My skeptisism was unfounded, however, because I found that the setting worked quite well the way they were able to pull it off. Having the fairies as school children and the teachers as Oberon and Tatania worked well. I assume that the parts of the mortals were either students on break or teachers or merely passing through the school (which would make sense because in the play they are merely mortals passing through the woods). I found that the desks and chairs worked well for the set because they were able to be easily moved without seeming disjointed or forced while in the scene. The only part that did not seem to fit with the school set was Bottom turning into the donkey; I didn't understand quite what a donkey had to do with a school but it was a dream so I suppose that could be rational in a dream. The performance was well done and overall I believe the more modernized school approach worked well for the opera.
Sam Franklin per 6
"Operas in English work better than other languages" I disagree with this statement. I find that the sound of operas in German and other languages has a better flow. Listening to an opera in English sounded awkward and didn't flow well. There's something about the sound of another language that i find peaceful. But with English i focus on the words instead of the music which in a way ruins the experience for me.
Brendan Connor
Per. 4
I want to talk about the fact that the Opera was in English. I have to say, I like Operas that are in my native tongue better than those in German or Italian, simply because I can understand most of it without looking at the teleprompter. That being said, there were still some voices, such as the counter-tenor, that I wouldn't have been able to understand had it not been for the teleprompter. And Opera in English loses some of its foreign, exotic qualities when put into a language that I understand.
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