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Johnny Washington in Midsummer Night's Dream as Lysander
Johnny Washington's Take on Lysander
I really enjoyed playing Lysander as I thought we shared many character traits. We are both passionate romantics who exude confidence and at times can be quite sardonic. Lysander showed many different sides in his personality depending on who he was around. He was pompous and scornful around royalty while he was much more charming and aloof around his love interest.
Lysander has a hilarious demeanor, which gave me room for improv. Due to the fact he was willing to rebel against authority, I found truth in the fact that he viewed himself as someone special who could act above the law. Therefore, I found a lot of humor by giving him a narcissistic side with him being slightly obsessed about his image, both physical and social. This provided me with plenty of opportunities to have fun at my own expense or at the expense of the other lovers or particular members of the royal team.
Lysander's passion was fun to explore, especially because he falls in love with Helena due to a spell placed on him by the fairy king Oberon. Because of this enchantment, he falls out of love with Hermia to the point of repulsion. The scene where Hermia confronts this hexed version of Lysander was a highlight of the play. There was a lot of room for physical comedy and allowed me to display a wide range of emotionally charged responses. Lysander was truly a character I won't forget playing.
Lysander Character Description
Lysander is an Athenian man who is in love with Hermia, but their relationship faces challenges due to Hermia's father's insistence that she marry Demetrius instead. Their relationship is complicated further when fairies place a spell on Lysnader which causes him to love Helena.
Lysander is known for his romantic and charming nature, who often comes off as passionate and idealistic. He is willing to defy authority and societal expectations to be with Hermia, showing determination and loyalty in his pursuit of true love. Lysander is also clever and resourceful, using schemes and plans to outwit those who try to keep him apart from Hermia. His character embodies themes of love, rebellion against authority, and the transformative power of romantic relationships in the play.
A Review of My Performance as Lysander by Midsummer Night's Dream Director, Joe Johnston
I had the pleasure of working with Johnny Washington in my production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for Livonia Shakespeare in the Park in the summer of 2024. Because of busy summer schedules, he and the other three actors playing the Lovers had an expedited rehearsal period that only began in earnest about three weeks before tech. Johnny arrived on day one, off book, with a fully-developed sense of his character.
The amount of preparation this took blew me away, but it didn't prepare me for the work Johnny would continue to do through the remainder of the rehearsal process. He would bring something new and fresh every time we worked. He made clear choices, and enhanced those choices with a multitude of nuance. Lysander grew with every rehearsal, and beyond, up until we closed. Johnny was quick to take direction and alter his approach based on very few notes about what was working and what wasn't. This is a quality I cherish in an actor. I do look forward to working with him again, and hope it is sooner rather than later.
The Art of Johnny Washington: A Collection of Stunning Images
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