Shakespeare in Love Creates Memorable Moments
When she set out to direct the Upper School’s co-production of Shakespeare in Love with Havergal, Godric Latimer-Kim knew that her students’ theatre experience varied wildly. “For some, it was their very first time on the stage,” she says. “But we also had grads who were participating in their last show. Everybody brought something different to the production and developed their range.” The end result was an incredible production with proud thespians and crew members.
Christian Smith ’24 has enjoyed participating in school productions since his Lower School days. Starring as Will Shakespeare in this production, he has also approached minor roles with the same gusto. “I've gone from being a penguin in Madagascar to lead roles in other plays and I’ve always enjoyed it,” he says. On Shakespeare, Smith said that he felt a familiar sense of excitement and “sprinting to the end” as the show dates neared. To help his fellow castmates, especially those who were new to theatre, he offered encouragement and tips. “I felt that it was my responsibility to encourage them to run their lines when they got home at the end of the day,” he says. “I was sort of sharing my passion with everyone to get them enticed.”
Oscar Yeung ’26, the stage manager, also felt that excitement. Yeung coordinated rehearsals, helped the cast run lines and work on their scenes, and supported the smooth run of each performance. Like Smith, he felt the adrenaline rush in the days leading up to the performances. “As we entered the final week, everyone was really pulling their weight and the show just came together. It was so nice to see.”
The experience has had an impact on both Yeung and Smith. “Saturday night, at the final show, I was thinking ‘Oh, it's already over.’ And then Sunday, I thought, ‘I'm excited for the next one,’” says Yeung. Shakespeare was Smith’s final dramatic production before he graduates in June and he’s grateful for the memories he’ll carry with him. “Years down the line, I'm going to be thinking of the performances because they went so well. That's going to be something I look back on as one of my top moments at Crescent.”
