First Shakespeare Play in New HHS Auditorium!

On Friday, May 12th, and Saturday, May 15th, the Homer Shakespearean Society produced the first Shakespeare play in the newly renovated Homer High School auditorium!

Much Ado About Nothing is a favorite among those who enjoy crafty wordplay and Shakespearean puns. The plot follows two young soldiers, Benedick and Claudio, as they return home from war and proceed to woo two young ladies, Beatrice and Hero. All the while, Don John, a fellow soldier, schemes to ruin the romance.

The Homer Shakespearean Society has been known to experiment with Shakespearean works. In November 2015, for example, it produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in 1960s America. Director Louise Felker chose to set Much Ado About Nothing during World War II. The men sported military uniforms while the ladies planted victory gardens. It was a spectacular decision. The World War II theme matched the plotline perfectly!

There were a number of outstanding performances by Homer’s student actors. Drew Gustafson, Tessa Brown, Nate Johnson, and Kaitlyn Clune led the pack as Benedick, Beatrice, Claudio, and Hero respectively. Elliot Gustafson played the role of Don John while Benjamin Hyde played Don Pedro, the commanding officer. Stephen Hyde arguably received the most laughs in his role of Dogberry, the town constable. The rest of the cast was filled out by enormously talented actors who helped bring the show to life. The show was professionally stage-managed by Mikayla Elkins, and a team of hardworking technicians kept everything running smoothly.

The show received a decent turnout, with nearly two-hundred people in attendance. Everybody was pleased with the performances; there was not a single criticism to be heard. There was a moment of excitement when Ms. Felker announced that the Society will be producing Hamlet in November 2017. This is bound to generate much excitement at Homer High School, considering that eleventh-graders read Hamlet in their English classes.

Congratulations to the Shakespearean Society on a job well done!