Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’s 20-year-old daughter, Suri Noelle, performs alongside fellow acting majors from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The student cast is staging the UK premiere of a “modern translation” of A Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted by Jeff Whitty at Assembly, Edinburgh, directed by Kim Weild.
Carnegie Mellon Drama Students Bring Modern Shakespeare to Edinburgh
The production features a contemporary translation penned by Tony award-winner Jeff Whitty, known for his work on Avenue Q. Whitty’s script leans into a frisky, high-energy tone rather than a traditional classical delivery. Characters are described as “bright young things,” and the staging incorporates modern colloquialisms alongside retained Shakespearean speeches.
Director Kim Weild takes full advantage of this Spiegeltent-style venue’s mirrored interior, letting actors move in circular patterns around the space. Set design by Zhuang Kang incorporates woodcut-style forests and factories, referencing industrial Pittsburgh to weave themes of class and social status with the arrival of the rude mechanicals. Bri Johnson designed the costumes, which feature elegant millinery and a dash of tartan.
Cast Performances and Production Details
Assessing the acting, Noelle shines across the comedic moments as well as through the heartbreak of Helena’s Act 1 Scene 1 monologue, delivered pleadingly with wide eyes directed at the front row. The broader ensemble features Eli Strain as Puck, Logan Yao as Demetrius, Siahvash Marshall as Titania, Celia Evans as a cowardly lion, Rusty Daniels as Pyramus, and Moyo Ifafore as Quince. The 90-minute runtime is bookended by folk songs, though reviewers observed that the production misses the play’s darker undercurrent.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is directing the Carnegie Mellon production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
The production is directed by Kim Weild. -
Who adapted the script for this version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
The modern translation was adapted by Jeff Whitty, a Tony award-winner for Avenue Q. -
Where is the show being staged in Edinburgh?
The production is running at Assembly, Edinburgh.
Pro Tip: When planning to catch student drama showcases at major festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, book tickets early as high-profile ensemble productions and celebrity-associated casts tend to sell out quickly.
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