A new song for Shakespeare (with an audio recording)

FORT KENT - Most people don't think of A Midsummer Nights Dream, the classic drama of lovers entangled in the schemes of bickering magical creatures, as a musical.  But local musician and composer Aaron Bernstein has added a musical number to the famous Renaissance play.

(Find the recording of the song HERE)

Aaron Bernstein shows off the musical instrument he used to compose “Faerie Lullaby”, a musical number that local actors will sing during the performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.    - Birden photo

Bernstein said, "During the play, the fairy queen asks her minions to cast a spell to sing her to sleep."  The musician and producer composed a musical piece that utilizes Shakespeare's words and Bernstein's music.  He calls it "Faerie Lullaby".

He said he had been mulling over the melody for several months and that Gregorian Chants and other plainsongs, a body of chants used in the liturgy of the Catholic Church, inspired some of his work.  He said, "It doesn't neatly fit into a genre.  It's more of a spell, an incantation."

During the play, Renee Deschene provides the lead voice as she sings the words to the song.  There's a counter melody that Emma Desjardin, Sadie Desjardin, and Lily Brickman sing along with Deschene.  Young actors Melissa Albert, Robin Albert, Desiree Dumais, and Morgan Dumais make animal noises and other sound effects to provide atmosphere to the spell.

Bernstein said, "It's supposed to give the impression that magic is occurring, that something different is happening on stage."

Listeners at rehearsal have said they like the song, but Bernstein labeled it "ethereal rather than pretty."

The song is just one of several flourishes Director Corey Gagne and Producer Bernstein have added to the play.

They are using a large cast composed of local residents of all ages, including business owners, students from the public schools, local residents, college students home for summer vacation, and students from the University of Maine at Fort Kent.

This year's play is the third and most ambitious play since UMFK restarted the summer theatre program in 2008.

Curtains lift for this year's show on July 29, 30, and 31 at 7 p.m.  Organizers will host a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 1