So Rude! A Riff on "A Midsummer Night’s Dream"
“So Rude!” is a modern adaptation of the Rude Mechanicals scenes from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Erin is the leader of her high school drama club, and her senior project is to mount a production of “Pyramus and Thysby.” Everything that can go wrong does, from missing actors, flubbed lines, and malfunctioning costumes and props. By the time the curtain goes up, it could be a triumph or a tragedy. Or both!
Productions
Behind The Scenes
With James Venhaus
What inspired you to write this play?
As a career theatre educator, I wanted to write something that would be fun to perform for the actors, and fun for the audience to see as well. But, I also wanted to reflect on the issues my students face and poke a little fun at all of us in the theatre when we take things a little too seriously.
What's your favorite part or line in the play? Why?
Erin has a monologue near the end of the play in which she reaches her breaking point and unloads on the cast. She articulates the pressures students today face in a funny and touching way. It's the section of the play that resonates the most with the students who have performed the play. I’m told it is an accurate reflection of the lives of many students.
Where did the characters come from? Are they based on people you know?
They are an amalgam of many students I’ve known over the years. There is always an actor who thinks his part should be bigger, there is always a leader who takes things a little too seriously, etc. I hope they represent people that the audience has all “met” before at some point in school.
What did you try to achieve with this play?
I hope to provide lots of laughs for the audience while also giving the actors relatable characters to play and lots of physical comedy to perform.
Do you have anything else you'd like to add?
I hope you enjoy the script!