As DSF gets ready to celebrate its Tenth Anniversary, we take a look back at how one of Delaware’s favorite summer traditions got its start. Each month until this year’s Festival, we’ll hear the memories of a participant in the inaugural production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (2003).
BRIAN K. ELAM – “Robin Starveling”
Alright. Seriously. When I did Midsummer at Delaware Shakespeare a LONG time ago, one memory sticks out. On stage as Robin Starveling, I was playing the “moon” in the play within the play. Meanwhile, Greg Robleto, “whom Pyramus presented in his sport,” began his monologue while I, as said moon, stood a bit upstage center, posing.
When suddenly, from the midst of the audience, I saw a grasshopper make an extremely long jump from the seats to my bright mint green tunic. In character, I looked slightly down at the grasshopper. The audience totally saw that happen and began chuckling. Still playing as Robin, I took my seeming moon-less hand and quickly tried to swap the bug away. All the while, the audience is increasing with laughter. Greg, nonetheless, continued with his monologue as not once, not twice, but thrice I tried to get this grasshopper off of me.
Until finally, as quick as I could, I managed to pluck the grasshopper off of me and sent it back into the audience and resumed my pose as the moon. The audience roared with laughter RIGHT AFTER Greg finished his monologue and as soon as he said “Moon, take thy flight.” I gave a cheeky smile at this with a thumbs up and whisked off stage, the audience applauding and laughing madly.
Writing this up is probably not as exciting as seeing it and I didn’t want to steal Greg’s thunder. But I hate bugs. Especially when they’re on me. ESPECIALLY WHEN I’M ON STAGE.
