Young love blooms on the beaches of New Jersey as the curtain opens at the Goodson Theater this November fifteenth. Lyle Fagioli, played by junior Archibald Lai, and Mia Dicarlo, played by freshman Cali Sadsad, attempt to find their way to Canada after being told by their parents that they weren’t allowed to marry. However, the local fairy dynasty living in the young couple’s home town use magic and spells, creating a series of obstacles along Mia and Lyle’s journey.
The hilarious and well crafted play, “Midsummer Jersey,” is brought to life by the Gabrielino drama club, running from Friday Nov. 15, to Sunday, Nov. 17. The attention to detail in the production, from the actors’ delivery of their lines to the costumes, shines in every scene. Elegance and whimsy can be seen in the costume of the fairy queen, while the four young characters–Lyle, Mia, Helene, and Denis–classic New Jersey style and spunk with their leather jackets and poofy hair.
Mia and Lyle find themselves lost on the beach, escaping both their parents and Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Denis. Simultaneously, problems arise in the marriage between the fairy queen and king, spilling over into the lives of the main characters. Spells turn lovers against each other, causing unexpected romances, including the fairy queen falling madly in love with a donkey.
Drama teacher Bobby Hundley directs the play with the assistance of senior Gabriela Sanchez. Sanchez serves as the assistant director, balancing tasks such as memorizing cues, working with actors on their lines, and learning the ins and outs of production.
Despite her responsibilities, Sanchez still finds time to connect with the cast.
“My job is to relate what the characters are going through, to real life experiences that the actors might be able to relate to,” Sanchez explained. Her connection the actors and the crew have with each other is evident in the play and performance, from the chemistry between the young couples to the comfortable delivery of the humorous dialogue between each of the characters.
In the end, Lyle and Mia could get married on the beaches of New Jersey alongside Helene and Denis. The fairy king frees his queen from her love spell and the two realize that tricks are no substitute for honest communication. The couples’ love stories come to a close, with marriage and understanding. The audience stood as the actors took their bows and the curtains close on the happy newlyweds, Lyle and Mia, and Helene and Denis.
The drama department was able to start off this year’s theatrical season with a bang. The engaging story and performance from the actors, and the intentional set design by the crew truly shines throughout the production. The amount of work these students put into this play is palpable and leaves any audience member eager for their next performance.
