Revelstoke children show a passion for acting in Theatre Prospero’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

By Laura Stovel and David F. Rooney

Twenty-one Revelstoke children spent a day workshopping the 16th-century Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Monday at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre. Production of the play, which is organized by actress Miranda Allen of the Edmonton-based theatre company Theatre Prospero, will be performed at the centre on July 19.

The theatre group has long dedicated time and effort to producing Shakespearean plays with children in small towns in Alberta. This is the first time they have have come to Revelstoke to do this.

This production could well have been scrubbed because of the sudden death two weeks ago of actor Adam Cope. Miranda Allen and the other members of the theatre company were grief-stricken by his demise but persevered with this production, albeit with a smaller number of Prospero’s professional actors than anticipated. That they honoured their commitment to produce the play speaks volumes about their professionalism and dedication to their art.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, complete with 21 local kids, opens to the public — for one night only — on Friday, July 19.  The doors open at 6:30 pm and the curtain rises at 7. Tickets are $5 and are available at ArtFirst! on First Street West and the Chamber of Commerce on Campbell Avenue. 

In the meantime, here is a selection of photos from the acting workshop on Monday:

(Left to right) Frankie Howe, an unidentified actress, Isobel Bray and Hailey Christie-Hoyle practice their roles at the Midsummer Night’s Dream workshop at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre on Monday. Laura Stovel photo
(Left to right) Frankie Howe, an unidentified actress, Isobel Bray and Hailey Christie-Hoyle practice their roles at the Midsummer Night’s Dream workshop at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre on Monday. Laura Stovel photo
Lead artist Miranda Allen (centre), who represents Edmonton-based Theatre Prospero in this production, talks with acting instructor Anita Hallewas and stage manager Martin Ralph. Allen, who is originally from Revelstoke, led the auditioning and casting and will be playing Helena in the production. Laura Stovel photo
Lead artist Miranda Allen (centre), who represents Edmonton-based Theatre Prospero in this production, talks with acting instructor Anita Hallewas and stage manager Martin Ralph. Allen, who is originally from Revelstoke, led the auditioning and casting and will be playing Helena in the production. Laura Stovel photo
 Actors Frankie Howe and Thomas MacDonald study their lines. Laura Stovel photo

Actors Frankie Howe and Thomas MacDonald study their lines. Laura Stovel photo
Grayson Norsworthy (right), who plays the role of Lysander, rehearses his lines with the help of stage manager Martin Ralph. Laura Stovel photo
Grayson Norsworthy (right), who plays the role of Lysander, rehearses his lines with the help of stage manager Martin Ralph. Laura Stovel photo
Acting instructor Anita Hallewas reviews lines with the nymphs. Laura Stovel photo
Acting instructor Anita Hallewas reviews lines with the nymphs. Laura Stovel photo
Isobel Bray (left) and Maxine Opatril, both of whom will play Puck in the play, rehearse with Theatre Prospero actor Mark Henderson from Edmonton. Laura Stovel photo
Isobel Bray (left) and Maxine Opatril, both of whom will play Puck in the play, rehearse with Theatre Prospero actor Mark Henderson from Edmonton. Laura Stovel photo