Courtesy photos.
– Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.
(Helena, Act 1 Scene 1) – “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
CAMARILLO — The CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Performing Arts Program will present a whimsical William Shakespeare classic April 12 and 13 in Malibu Hall on the CSUCI campus.
Four lovers and fairies will frolic in the forest of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the story of four royals who get lost in the woods only to have a playful fairy named Puck manipulate their desires with magic flower juice and other tricks.
“This play is really special to me because I have written so many papers about ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’” said director and theatre instructor Laura Covault. “It seems whenever the characters disappear into the forest, they always come out transformed. There’s a love quadrangle, hilarity and a group of rag-tag wannabe actors who do a play within a play…and most important? It’s got fairies.”
Dance Studies major Gabriella Perry plays Puck, which is a physically and mentally demanding role, but a lot of fun.
“Puck is so mischievous and fun and interacts with everyone,” Perry said. “We have all these platforms on stage and they have me running around literally jumping from platform to platform.”
Covault co-directs the show with CSUCI senior Makiko Compton and Class of 2023 Performing Arts alumnus Griffin Giboney, who says he learned a lot by directing a show with 16th century English dialogue.
“I feel like, in Shakespeare, it’s even more important to know your character’s motivation than in any other play, because in other plays you can rely on dialogue to communicate the story,” Giboney said. “The way the play is written, it’s a little bit vague so you can take liberties. It’s really like a blank canvas of sorts.”
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the first play performed by the CSUCI Performing Arts program when it began in 2008, so this classic holds special significance for Covault and CSUCI.
“There are lots of important voices to be heard, but, for performers and directors, there is a lot to be learned from Shakespeare,” Covault said.
Performances are at 8 p.m. on April 11 and 12 and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 13. CSUCI students (w/ campus ID) are free; other students (with ID) are free; CSUCI faculty and staff are $15; and for the general public, $25. Tickets may be purchased online
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS — California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is Ventura County’s only public university and opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the CSU system serving the regions of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties, as well as the entire state. CSUCI is located between Camarillo and the Oxnard Plain, midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and 25 miles north from Malibu.
The campus is nestled against the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains and is a 10-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean. With more than 5,600 students, 24,500 alumni, and 1,000 employees, CSUCI is poised to grow in size and distinction, while maintaining one of the most student-focused learning environments in public higher education with more than 90 academic degrees, teaching credentials, certificates, and professional and community programs.
Connect with and learn more by visiting www.csuci.edu or CSUCI’s Social Media.
The University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs, events and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the respective area below as soon as possible, but no later than seven (7) business days prior to the event/activity:
CSUCI Students: accommodations@csuci.edu
CSUCI Employee and members of the public: angela.portillo@csuci.edu