MONROE - The Shakespeare play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is about 90 pages long. For 14-year-old Chris Page, it not only made for interesting reading, but an interesting edit.
The home-schooled Monroe student took it upon himself to create an adaptation of the classic for the Shakespeare on the Edge youth acting group, not only condensing the play from about 2 1/2 hours to 1 1/2 hours but making it easier on his acting peers and the audience.
"I did it because I like reading, I really like Shakespeare and I really like the group I did it for," he said of the cast, which ranges in age from 4 to 17.
Their take on the classic comedy will be on stage at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Monroe Arts Center.
The actors did an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" last year, but this marks the first time one of the cast members took on the project.
"It took a lot of reading and dedication," said Page, who will also play the role of Oberon, king of the fairies, in the production. "I did not change the plot elements, but I got rid of some of the complicated stuff and some of the prose, but not too much. I wanted to keep the same flow and feel (of the original)."
An example of a term that was eliminated is "neaf," meaning a clenched fist, Page said.
Monroe High School student John Keizer, 16, is one of the play's directors. He appreciates Page's efforts.
"He did a pretty good job of it," Keizer said. "A lot of people wouldn't be up to that."
He knows the play well, as do the other directors.
"We've acted in the play before, so I can tell you he made it much easier," Keizer said of Page.
Meanwhile, Page did toss in some additions, to make the play more contemporary and to add a few comedic touches.
"I added the line, "Where are my bros?'" he said.
Funny thing is, a comedy wasn't Page's first choice.
"I wanted to do a tragedy," he said. "But everyone else wanted to do a comedy."
The home-schooled Monroe student took it upon himself to create an adaptation of the classic for the Shakespeare on the Edge youth acting group, not only condensing the play from about 2 1/2 hours to 1 1/2 hours but making it easier on his acting peers and the audience.
"I did it because I like reading, I really like Shakespeare and I really like the group I did it for," he said of the cast, which ranges in age from 4 to 17.
Their take on the classic comedy will be on stage at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Monroe Arts Center.
The actors did an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" last year, but this marks the first time one of the cast members took on the project.
"It took a lot of reading and dedication," said Page, who will also play the role of Oberon, king of the fairies, in the production. "I did not change the plot elements, but I got rid of some of the complicated stuff and some of the prose, but not too much. I wanted to keep the same flow and feel (of the original)."
An example of a term that was eliminated is "neaf," meaning a clenched fist, Page said.
Monroe High School student John Keizer, 16, is one of the play's directors. He appreciates Page's efforts.
"He did a pretty good job of it," Keizer said. "A lot of people wouldn't be up to that."
He knows the play well, as do the other directors.
"We've acted in the play before, so I can tell you he made it much easier," Keizer said of Page.
Meanwhile, Page did toss in some additions, to make the play more contemporary and to add a few comedic touches.
"I added the line, "Where are my bros?'" he said.
Funny thing is, a comedy wasn't Page's first choice.
"I wanted to do a tragedy," he said. "But everyone else wanted to do a comedy."