This year’s annual outdoor performance by the King’s Theatrical Society was a classic comedy that brought love and laughter to the Quad
One of the most special things about King’s is its roots in tradition and the dedication of students to maintaining the yearly events that are so intrinsic to the school. Classics in the Quad is one of those traditions: every year, on the library steps, the King’s Theatrical Society (KTS) performs a classical play, bringing antiquity to life with a cast of first-year actors.
This year, the KTS proudly presented Menander’s The Ill-Tempered Man (Dyskolos in its original Greek). Directed by Naza Amyoony and Chloe Van Kessel, the play follows Sostratos (Jesse Richards), a wealthy young man who falls madly in love at first sight with a girl (Mavis Jacquemain) who just so happens to be the daughter of a, if you can believe it, very ill-tempered man named Knemon (Felix Cramer). Through the whim and will of Pan (Ocean Wendler), who is pleased with the girl’s dedication to him, Sostratos wins over Knemon’s stepson, Gorgias (Halle Nickerson), and eventually the ever-cantankerous old farmer himself after helping to save him from a well he had fallen into. The play ends with a wedding party, celebrating not only Sostratos and Knemon’s daughter’s marriage, but Gorgias and Sostratos’ sister’s union as well.
A classic comedy in all forms, the show was a delight to watch. The cast was both well-prepared and brought out the nuances and hilarity of the directors’ interpretation. They captured the audience’s attention and kept them engaged and laughing for the full hour-long performance. The use of the performance space itself was also well-executed by the directors and stage manager CJ Logan. Long fabrics hung from different set pieces, which moved and flowed with the wind almost as much as Pan’s somewhat drunken followers (Chorus: Tessa Spicer [Leader], Rory Allen, Hailey Rodenhiser, Atlas Teague, Addy Turner).
In terms of Classics in the Quad experiences, Dyskolos could have been said to be blessed (perhaps even by Zeus himself). The weather was warm, the ground was dry without being frozen, and the producers, Gemma Hornsey and Wren Jarek-Simard, were the first in recorded Classics in the Quad history to have mics for six of the main characters. Combined with the traditional free hot chocolate, the experience as an audience member was perfect. As a student who is about to graduate, I could not have been gladder to have had The Ill-Tempered Man complete my fourth and final Classics in the Quad experience. Even more, I could not be happier that this year’s first-year students could experience such a time-honoured tradition in such a memorable way. And selfishly, as a member of the KTS, I could not be prouder that it was my executive team cohort who helped put it together.
A play about love, family and mischief, The Ill-Tempered Man reflects the brightest aspects of the King’s community. Classics in the Quad is an iconic part of the King’s experience, and this year was no exception. Just as Sostratos sought the girl he wanted, one can only hope that Classics in the Quad seeks to be just as astonishing in the years to come.
Cast and crew not listed above
Chaireas: Rose Chernoff
Pyrrhias: Jack Wachter
Daos: Madeleine Hurley
Sikon: Elliot Shupe
Getas: Sèna Dégila
Simike: Zoey Van Dam
Kallipides: Kevin Huynh
Sound: Oliver Inglis
Poster Design: Jack Mastrianni
Images:
Poster by Jack Mastrianni
Inset photo right: Audience members laughing at 2025 Classics in the Quad
Inset photo left: Ocean Wendler as Pan surrounded by the Chorus (from left to right: Hailey Rodenhiser, Atlas Teague, Rory Allen, Addy Turner and Tessa Spicer)
Banner photo: Cast of the The Ill-Tempered Man taking a bow at the end of the performance on the library steps.
Photos by Grace Watson
