SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The heat wave did not stop the play over the weekend. Syracuse Shakespeare In-The-Park (SSITP) concluded its first three performances on Sunday.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” wasn’t really a dream for the actors though: walking barefoot and laying down on the scalding concrete stage during the 91-degree weather were not the best conditions for performance. However, teamwork and effort eliminated those difficulties during the play. SSITP’s actor Alyssa Otoski-Keim shared with us how actors had to bring ice packs for the ones who were already in the scene, for example, acting “sleeping” on the floor.
“There is a spirit of play, collaboration, and cooperation,” Otoski-Keim said. “Our cast really takes care of each other. I think that’s kinda the message of the show: we improvise, but we do it in a way that serves each other.”
Otoski-Keim’s character Puck was endlessly running circles around the stage to make the scene more realistic. The magic forest among the Thornden Park Amphitheater’s trees was real. Otoski-Keim mentioned that it felt like an immersive piece while performing in the forest setup. Nonetheless, the stage was still boiling and Otoski-Keim did everything possible to help out her fellow actors.
“When I came out for my scene I actually did it a little faster than I normally do,” Otoski-Keim said. “I’m like, I’m so sorry, I’m just gonna try to get over this as fast as possible guys while you cooking out here.”
According to Otoski-Keim, the show turned out well despite the heat and oppressive weather. The next performance is expected this upcoming Friday at 5:30 pm. You can find more information on SSITP’s website.
If you want to see pictures from the past weekend’s play, visit SSITP’s Facebook page.
