Sara Robbins knows the name William Shakespeare intimidates some people. But -- she insists -- it really shouldn't.
"A lot of people are scared off because they don't think they will understand the language," the 16-year-old said. "But you are not supposed to understand every word. You're just supposed to feel it."
That's the advice Sara hopes people will take when they watch her and 17 other high school students and recent high school graduates shed their current teenage identities for roles in Shakespeare's "Much Ago About Nothing."
The Central Nebraska High School Theatre Program will present the play at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Sothman Park. The program is produced, directed and made up entirely of students from the Grand Island area.
The theater program chose to give Shakespeare's production an Old West theme, complete with cowboy boots, cap guns and Western costumes.
"Every year, we've picked a different time period for the play so we can show that the messages are universal and apply anywhere," Sara said.
The messages are those of love, betrayal, confessions, sabotage, faked death and misunderstandings. However, the cast agreed that the production was, above anything else, funny.
Described as both a tragic comedy and a hilarious tragedy by the students, the play will keep the audience laughing, said Evan Stewart, a 16-year-old co-director.
The play's initial planning began in April, producer Ben Robbins said. He said he chose the two directors, and then they all worked to chose the play, the cast and the theme.
The group has rehearsed three days a week for the last two months.
Schuyler Arnold, 17, who plays the prince, said Tuesday's rehearsal was similar to "throwing a shirt in the dryer to get the wrinkles out."
And at this evening's dress rehearsal, they will work to actually iron the wrinkles out, he said.
"It's been rough getting a bunch of high schoolers motivated to learn their lines," said co-director Ben McGahan, 17. "But, for high schoolers, I'd say we're doing pretty good."
At Tuesday's rehearsal, cast members were confident everything would fall together before the weekend.
"Just be prepared to laugh," Stewart said.
Ben Robbins, Sara's older brother, started the group as a way to unite the drama departments in various high schools. However, the actors and actresses this summer are primarily from Grand Island Senior High.
This performance is the third summer Shakespeare play done by the theater program. Last summer's play had a Hawaiian theme, which Stewart said was "infinitely more comfortable" than this summer's Old West costumes.
IF YOU GO
Central Nebraska High School Theatre Program presents William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing"
- When: 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Where: Sothman Park, 2315 Brentwood Blvd.
- Cost: Free; donations will be accepted.
- Other: Bring lawn chairs or blanket.
