Nome-Beltz students perform ‘I Hate Shakespeare!’
Story and photos by Anna Lionas
To laugh or not to laugh –- if that was the question, then the answer was a no brainer for audience members attending the Nome-Beltz student production of I Hate Shakespeare! which ran May 14-16.
The elementary school cafeteria was alight with laughter during the knee slapping, irreverent comedy. Put on by 9th through 12th graders and directed by Rachel Finney the show attracted a crowd of all ages.
Opening with a monologue from Hamlet, played by senior Luke Hansen, the Old English was soon interrupted by a booming voice from the crowd. The Hamlet heckler expressed his annoyance with the bard, citing his boring, no longer applicable narratives.
Hamlet brings the Grouch, played by Sean Norris, onstage and resolves to convince him Shakespeare isn’t so bad.
The two then move through scenes depicting plays by Shakespeare, each with a modern, comedic twist.
A speech from Romeo and Juliet is translated into a phone call between teenagers in modern times.
Othello, Desdemona and Iago hash it out on the Jerry Springer show. And a cow that was supposed to be a clown throws pie in the directors’ face.
One scene that had the audience in stitches was an infomercial advertising Shakespeare in a can. Luke Pomrenke played the convincing salesman, pushing a canned beverage that improves one’s speech in the event they find themselves tongue tied.
Ted, played by Atlas Boeckmann, was on a date with Sheila, played by Cassidy Martinson, when he became overshadowed by the swagger and rizz of Dick, played by Josh Contreras. But when he sipped on Shakespeare in a can, confidence took over and Ted belted out reciprocal insults to Dick in a strong Scottish accent that was almost unintelligible.
Boeckman’s goofy jabber and bold tone had the audience – and his castmates – doubled over. The scene earned extra applause.
The show ran through other known plays – MacBeth, Titus Andronicus, Richard III – even the Three Witches made an appearance. By the end of the fast paced play the heckler was convinced that Shakespeare wasn’t so bad.
As the curtain closed, the 22-member cast came out for a bow to a well-deserved standing ovation.
Finney has been the drama director for the past four years. She lets the cast vote on the play they want to perform. She’s had I Hate Shakespeare in the back of her mind for a few years, but it was about getting the right cast.
“All students had read Romeo and Juliet, and the seniors were also familiar with Julius Caesar, Othello, and Macbeth,” Finney said.
The production has been in the works since early April, but with a lot of last-minute dropouts and cast changes, everything came together a week out from showtime.
“It’s always great to see a group of kids come together who wouldn’t normally hang out or who aren’t involved in any other of the same classes or activities,” Finney said. “Drama club is the only activity some of them have in common, and it’s fun to see them make new friends through the experience.”
The 10 seniors of the production were honored at the end of the show: Wyatt Ahmasuk, Atlas Boeckmann, Taylor Gorn, Alyssa Hahn, Luke Hansen, Orson Hoogendorn, Lindsey Johnson, Steve Lopez, Marilyn Noyakuk and Lacey Sherman.
Hahn was the only one who participated all four years of school, keeping the lights on and the curtain moving as the only crew member for drama club.
This is likely Finney’s last year directing as she moves on from teaching at Nome Public Schools. While it’s a bittersweet parting, she said she was glad to go out with a bang, even if that bang was a pie to the face before the second act.