(Nick DeCrosta as Puck, Delaney Wilbur as First Fairy, Neo Valentin as Puck)
The King and Queen of the Fairies each need a number-one to do their bidding. Oberon gets Puck, played alternately by Neo Valentin & Nick DeCrosta. Titania gets her first fairy, played by Delaney Wilbur.
Director Kelley Mountzoures made the decision to double-cast the role of Puck. As an actor in the show myself, I can say that it has been a lot of fun having two different actors in this iconic role. The show is different every night, which is always true in live theater, but in this case the dynamics change based on which actor is in the role. For audiences, I suggest you consider seeing the show twice so you can see the differences yourselves!
First, we caught up with Nick, one of our Pucks:
HITW: In what ways are you like your character:
Nick: We are both on the brink of insanity, and we love the power of inducing laughter onto others. We enjoy pranking others and just having a merry time. We both try to get the most fun we can out of our lives.
HITW: in what ways are you NOT like your character:
Nick: Puck is more roguish and kind of a bad boy, whereas the only bad boy thing I’ve ever done is steal a shopping cart. He’s a lot more extroverted, whereas I’m an introvert.
HITW: How much Shakespeare experience (shakesperience) have you had?:
Nick: I’ve read a lot of Shakespeare, and dreamt up of some cool concepts to direct Shakespeare plays, but this is the first time acting in a Shakespeare play. Unless you count my debut as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet for my video parody project in high school.
HITW: How many shows have you done with HITW? What were they?:
Nick: This is the first one, but I’ve seen Of Mice and Men, and Lysistrata.
HITW: What’s the message of A Midsummer Night’s Dream?:
Nick: Don’t let convention dictate your love.
HITW: What is your favorite part of performing?
Nick: It’s a tie:
1. Finding physicalities and movements for the character.
2. Character analysis, finding their objectives, tactics, motives, what’s at stake for them. Also analyzing relationships with others and finding beat changes, etc.
HITW: What’s the most exciting part of being in this production for you?
Nick: Making people who are watching on the sidelines of rehearsals laugh.
Favorite color
Purple
Favorite food
Lobster
Favorite cartoon
Tie:
1. Rick and Morty
2. Archer
HITW: Do you have any theater superstitions or traditions?
Nick: Just this year when I was in Carrie, we started meditating and opening up our chakras before performing. That’s a tradition I’d like to keep up.
And Delaney (who plays First Fairy to Titania), who I had to threaten to give me her answers (she skipped a couple of questions and, even though I said I’d make up embarrassing answers, I’m just going to make a sad face and leave them out):
HITW: In what ways are you like your character
Delaney: Although my life is not as choreographed I enjoy singing and dancing as much as First Fairy. I am also fiercely loyal, which is important to her and her relationship with Titania.
HITW: in what ways are you NOT like your character
Delaney: Well my character isn’t human so we differ there.
HITW: How much Shakespeare experience (shakesperience) have you had?
Delaney: I am excited to say that while I have done a lot of scene study and solo work this is my first time doing a full length Shakespeare production.
HITW: How many shows have you done with HITW? What were they?
Delaney: This is my third show at HITW, my first was Anything Goes, as Virtue and last summer I was one of the raptors in Enron. I have also participated in two 24hr play projects.
HITW: What’s the most exciting part of being in this production for you?
Delaney: Learning to do all the makeup!
Favorite color
Maroon
Favorite food
Spaghetti Pie
Favorite cartoon
Avatar the Last Airbender is my favorite but I’m currently working my way through Venture Brothers for the first time.
HITW: Do you have any theater superstitions or traditions?
Delaney: I often rock out to very silly music on the way to the theater in order to shake off the day and get my head in the game to perform.
And finally Neo, our other Puck (who I also had to threaten with embarrassing answers in order to get him to talk to us…)
HITW: In what ways are you like your character?
Neo: I’m like my character in the sense that I’m very loyal to my superiors and I would do anything to get the job done for them.
HITW: In what ways are you NOT like your character?
Neo: I’m not like my character in the sense that I’m not a sociopathic, manic satyr fairy who is hell-bent on bringing chaos to the mortals of Athens.
HITW: How much Shakesperience have you had?
Neo: My first shakesperience was as Jaques in As You Like It at Classical Magnet School. My second is Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at HITW
HITW: How many shows have you done with HITW? What were they?
Neo: I’ve been in 2 HITW shows. First being Still Life with Iris as Mozart/ Thunder Bottler #1. Midsummer being my second.
HITW: What is the message of A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
Neo: When the opportunity comes, go crazy and mess around with mortals and their feeble minds (…maybe I am a sociopath)
HITW: What’s your favorite part of performing?
Neo: When I’m performing on stage, I’m a part of an entirely new world. I forget all about the world of Neo and become a part of the world of Athens as the mischievous Puck.
HITW: What’s the most exciting part of being in this production?
Neo: The best part of being in this production is that this is the iconic comedy from all of Shakespeare’s plays, so it’s an honor to play one of his most iconic characters.
Favorite color: Orange
Favorite food: Hot wings
Favorite cartoon: Miraculous Ladybug & old TMNT
HITW: Do you have any theater superstitions or traditions?
Neo: One theater superstition I have when I play deranged, manic, crazy characters is I don’t sleep for 5 weeks straight to develop the craziness of the characters.
We still have some tickets available for tonight and tomorrow — come meet these guys in person this weekend and next. Fridays and Saturdays at 8!