“The Masque of Pyramus and Thisbe,” performed Aug. 8 at 4 p.m.at the First Presbyterian Church auditorium, depends on masks for costumes, as shown here by director Tom Lemery in the role of Ninny’s Tomb.
(Oneida, NY- Aug. 2013) The troupe of young actors in the OPL Children’s Theater Program will show off the mime and mummery they’ve learned in the Oneida Public Library’s Summer Reading Program in the premier performance of “The Masque of Pyramus and Thisbe” in the auditorium of the First Presbyterian Church of Oneida on Thursday, Aug. 8, at 4 p.m.
The free show, under the direction of Tom Lemery with the assistance of Kayli Wilson, is billed as a one-act pantomime in two acts adapted from the classic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe by Tom Murray. In this version, inspired by Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the story is played for laughs, with the actors performing as the set, props and pit band as well as human characters.
“This is a very challenging play for the kids because they are learning how to express themselves both emotionally and physically,” Lemery said. “ Every role counts, and every actor has to be a star, yet they have to work together to make this a successful show.”
The 12 young actors will be wearing masks as their sole costumes, depending on movement and mime to give life to their characters. Artist and teacher Carol Cotten in the program’s Mask Workshop guided the children in creating their own masks to reflect their characters in the play, including the Trees, Wall, Lion, Sun and Moon.
“Some kids have two distinct characters to play,” Lemery said, “while four kids are always on stage acting as the trees, roles that demand that they sing, sway and comment on the action in synchronization.”
“The Masque of Pyramus and Thisbe” features Carrianne Bush, Sage Carolla, Hannah Jeffery, Hailey Long, Joah McCoy, Olivia McCoy, Tori Nellis, Madison Paul, Gloria Twal and Mariaangela Twal. Tom Lemery has a cameo role as Ninny’s Tomb, while Kayli Wilson plays the hard-pressed Narrator, who tries to keep the actors on script with little success.
The First Presbyterian Church is at the corner of Broad and Stone streets, while the entrance to the auditorium is from the parking lot at the rear of the church off Stone St.
The performance of “The Masque of Pyramus and Thisbe” is free and open to the public. For more information, stop by the Oneida Library, 220 Broad St., or call 363-3050 and ask for Tom Murray.