Student Actors Bringing Shakespeare to Life
The Department of Communication will present a nontraditional Shakespeare show this weekend.
Mississippi College’s (MC) Department of Communication is presenting “Shakespearean Scenes and Things” on April 5 and 6. Unlike traditional performances, the show will not be constrained to a stage. It is designed to move audiences through vignettes in different locations. Audience members will be guided by the actors as the show progresses.
“Instead of focusing on actions that take place solely in front of them on a stage, they will be able to watch the action unfolding around them,” Director Sarah Hankins said. “This type of performance challenges the actors because they have to be more aware of where they are in relation to the audience members. They must play to all sides, constantly breaking the fourth wall that is in traditional theatre.”
“Performing in an open space really changes the dynamic in acting,” freshman performer Charity Johnston said. “There’s no separation between the audience and the actors, you’re all a part of the show.”
Hankins, a theater teacher at Clinton High School (CHS) and an adjunct communication professor at MC, crafted a modern take on timeless classics. The production is in collaboration with CHS theater and consists of various scenes from William Shakespeare’s most notable plays such as “Hamlet”, “Much Ado about Nothing” and “Macbeth”.
“[Shakespeare was] a great artist,” sophomore performer Micah Shepherd said. “Someone who had ambition and passion for what he did. You can’t erase something like that, not even if you tried. We notice the passion Shakespeare had for his career, and we carry on his works as an example for future playwrights to come.”
“I believe that the audience will take away a newfound love of Shakespeare from the show,” Johnston said. “I know it is difficult to find Shakespeare appealing for most audiences since we may have difficulty understanding the language and the motivations of the characters. I think that Sarah Hankins’ modern take on these scenes really breathes a refreshing new breath of life into them.”
As audiences become further removed from Shakespeare and his world, it is important for directors and performers to adapt the style of performance.
“I think audiences will enjoy the show because of its interactive nature,” Johnston said. “It really pulls you into the world of Shakespeare. You’re not an audience watching a show, you’re an active breathing part of the magic of it all. Not to mention, it’s just tons of good fun. Shakespeare wrote comedies for people to laugh at, and these scenes will definitely get a chuckle.”
Performances were set to begin on the Piazza, leading audiences into Jennings Courtyard, but due to weather, performances will be moved to the Gore Art Complex. Shows will take place on April 5 and 6 at 5 p.m.
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