It opens in a few days and there is all sorts of goings on!  Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society are almost ready for their opening performance of A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM.  The Guide had a chance to sweep Puck behind a door to chat with Alison Benstead.

SAG: It must be almost infinite, the ways that The Dream can be created.  What can audiences expect in HMDS’ vision here and how does Puck fit into it? 

ALISON:       It definitely is! There is so much scope for conceptual fun with this play. I think this freedom is what makes it so timeless, and so enjoyable for audiences to watch over and over again. There will never be two productions the same, so it really is a story that can be re-imagined in so many ways.

What audiences can expect from the vision that HMDS has breathed into the life of this show, is a really relevant topic, which thankfully we see awareness being brought to more and more every day.

It’s the way in which waste, particularly plastic and non-recyclable materials are being added to landfill or simply discarded without a care, and the effect that it has on the natural world. Puck is a being that journeys between both the fairy, or natural world, and the human world. Puck really bridges the gap between these two realms and also, in our show, bridges the gap between the audience and the characters, breaking the fourth wall and playing with them at every opportune moment.

SAG:   That is certainly a modern way of seeing the play, really relevant as some of the characters are tradespeople too. So this environmental theme doesn’t reduce the fun side I hope?

ALISON:      Absolutely not! There are so many elements to the stage design that allows us to really play in the set and have heaps of fun with it.

Our costume designer, Gina, has created some really beautiful and interesting costumes, made largely from pre-loved garments, adorned with plastic materials and objects, to show the way in which plastic has crept so much into our society, that we barely notice it.

I think it’s a really important issue to create awareness around, so it’s never going to be a boring topic. It’s a message that will hit home to some, and leave then questioning, for others, perhaps plant a seed about the impact we are having on the earth.

SAG:  I once played Snug the Joiner and the director dumped all us Mechanicals in the bush on a full moon night and let the faeries torture us.  I hope that is not the kind of process you are having with your director, Laura May Vassallo.

ALISON:       We definitely have not had an experience like that, it sounds like it was awful! The process of working with Laura has been wonderful. She is so passionate and dedicated to this project. She has had a very clear vision right from the start, but also gave us so much freedom to really play and explore our characters and how far we could go with them.

SAG:  HMDS is bit of an institution in Sydney’s west, nearly 50 years, but more known for musicals I think.  There’s a very strong community feel to the production I imagine?

ALISON:      Yes, they mostly produce musicals, and are quite renowned in the area. It really is a wonderful, very supportive community, which is so imperative for producing a successful show. HMDS has all the heart and soul of a group of people working towards the same goal, with a manner of professionalism and pride in their work.

SAG:      Are you enjoying the language of Puck?  You have several school performances, it must be fun to inspire young people to enjoy Shakespearean language, especially when so many of Puck’s speeches are well known.

ALISON:       I think that any child who grows up wanting to be an actor, begins by watching a great play, or a great film, and feeling inspired. If I could reach a few of those children and somehow inspire and motivate them, either to pursue the creative arts, or writing, or drama, then I have done my job.

I can’t wait to see how young respond to this show and the way we are presenting it. It’s important that children understand that Shakespeare is fun and energetic and exciting, and that it is just as relevant now as it was back in the day!

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM from Holroyd Musical and Dramatic Society [Facebook] opens tonight, Friday 29th June and plays until 6th July.