The Salem High School Drama Club is finally back on stage and will be performing ‘I Hate Shakespeare’ the next two weekends.
Drama Club Sponsor Drew Johnson says it’s been a challenge as there are many fresh faces.
“It has been an almost two-year absence, so we’re pretty excited. We have 26 kids, 20 of them being brand new to the program. So it has been a building year. Getting to meet some new young people and have some different experiences.”
Johnson says the play will also be unique in the way it is presented.
“The show will be multimedia because we actually started filming some scenes then it ended up working out that we could have a live performance. So we’ve blended the two into a hybrid performance. But they will watch it live here though.”
Johnson says the big screen will come down for the portion of the play that has been filmed.
He notes they looked at lots of plays but settled on I Hate Shakespeare because it is a comedy and would make people laugh after the long dry spell due to COVID-19.
Connor Teriet is one of the seniors who are back.
“My role is Hamlet. He is one of the main characters in Shakespeare’s plays. He is considered a coward, I would say, and loves to sword fight.”
Mataya Petrea is playing the unhappy audience member.
“My role basically in this show is to break Hamlet and the rest of the cast down. It’s basically me coming out of the audience pointing out every single one of Shakespeare’s flaws.”
The two along with the other seniors Haley Ferguson, Luna Gordon, and Hannah DeLao all say they are glad to be back on stage.
‘I Hate Shakespeare’ will be performed on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at seven pm this week. The only Sunday matinee will be on Sunday this weekend. Additional performances are planned for next Friday and Saturday nights. Admission is $6 for students and $8 for adults. Tickets will be available at the door prior to each show.
The two Juliets: (left) modern Juliet played by Marley Donoho and traditional Juliet played by Haley Ferguson.
Top Row Left-Right: Luna Gordon, Janice Lane, Serenity Brubaker, Hannah Delao, Ashton Baldridge, Rachel Maas, Franklin Addison, Conner Teriet, Mataya Petrea, Avelyn Sexton, Olivia Howe, Melanie Knaak, Marley Donoho, Haley Ferguson, Jaci Gammon, Aurora Waggoner, Kylie Engel.
Bottom row-Hanna Johnston, Brooklyn Carter, Alexandria Dodson, Shayla Prosise, Anneliese Aaron, Rebecca Hays, Claire Gordon, Kylie Branch, Lillian Janic, Oddyssie Horton, and Ariana Sloan.
