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"He makes it easy to underâ€" stand," says student actor Brandon McGibbon (Bottom), of Melymick. "This version takes place in the 60‘s. I love the hippie era, especialâ€" ly the music. Nothing is better than reciting Shakespeare in bell botâ€" toms." A Midsummer Night‘s Dream focuses on the relationship between Egeus and his daughter Hermia â€" an era Melymick chose because he feels that this was a time when the generation gap was most obvious. He also happens to own a Checker Cab and Cadillac from this period which are being used as part of the Melymick has convinced many students of his belief, and had no trouble drumming up lots of enthuâ€" siasm for the school‘s latest producâ€" tion, a 1960‘s interpretation of William â€" Shakespeare‘s A Midsummer Night‘s Dream. "Everybody can learn to love Shakespeare if they focus on the simplicity of the words," says Mark Melymick, drama instructor at White Oaks Secondary School. Melymick comes to his job as drama teacher with a long list of credits as a professional actor. After graduating with a Bachelor of Education at the University of Saskatchewan, Melymick found himself accepted at Brooklyn College, in New York, in 1984 â€" studying playwriting with Jack Gelber, and acting with F. Murray Abraham (Academy Award winner for Amadeus). Simultaneously, he secured a role in the off Broadway production of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. In 1986, Melymick became a teacher at the college and formed an improvy comedy group called Village Soaps.: The next year, howâ€" ever, Melymick‘s visa ran out and he missed home, so he packed his bag â€" settling in Canada‘s theatrical capital... Toronto. Melymick hooked up with agent, Ron Barry, from the prestiâ€" gious The Characters talent agency and in no time he was producing plays he wrote, acting on the theâ€" atrical stage, in commercials, on television shows, and in feature films. He just took a two month Jordan played in high school bands and even backed singer Bobby Vee, before he studied film at Brock University. He dropped out of school, joined a band called Churl and hit the road travelling through Canada and Europe. Finding that the language interested him more than just playing guitar, Jordan began playing solo in Toronto If this doesn‘t look like the cast of a Shakespeare production, you‘re right, but, in fact, it is. These are White Oaks Secondary School stuâ€" dents and they are ready to bring a 1960‘s version of ‘Bill‘ Shakespeares comedy, A Midsummer Night‘s Dream to audiences under the stars, beginning next Thursday. (Photo by Riziero Vertolli) leave of absence to play Agent â€" school) work at night and in the Cooper in It Happened In Paradise â€" summer. It can be very tiring but starring Nicholas Cage, Dana . worth it," he says. Carvey, and Jon Lovitz. : The first weekend in June, Marc Jordan headlines Shaarei Bethâ€"F] benefit It‘s being billed as the Concert on Morrison Road and it will feature the talents of recording artist and composer, Marc Jordan and comedlan Albert Schultz AKA Rob of Street Legal. The event is being hosted by the Shaareiâ€"Bethâ€"El Synagogue and is scheduled for Saturday, May 28th beginâ€" ning at 8:45 p.m. "I do most of my (out of «4d The first weekend in June, Melymick will be off to Winnipeg folk clubs, hustling his songs, and was eventually signed by the Canadian division of CBS Records at the age of 23. His debut album, Mannequin, not only won him critical acclaim but also a Canadian Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist. Since that time, Jordan has also contributed songs to films such as Youngblood, Heavy Metal and Like Father, Like Son and scored the film, The Canadian Conspiracy. H was awarded Producer of the Year honors for his most recent album, Reckless Valentine, at this year‘s Juno Awards. Tickets for the event are $25 per person and teens are welcome for $10. For information, call 849â€"6000. Shaareiâ€" Bethâ€"El is located at 186 Morrison Rd. Tickets are $5 and are available at the school. Call 845â€"4284. Remember to bring your own foldâ€" ing chair or blanket for this theatriâ€" cal extravaganza under the stars. A Midsummer Night‘s Dream will be held at the White Oaks Amphitheatre, the corner of McCraney and Montclair at 8 p.m., May 26th, 27th, 28th and June 1st and 2nd. This is Melymick‘s final year at White Oaks. Next year, due to a teaching surplus at the school, Melymick will be transferring across Trafalgar Road to Syl Apps Correctional Centre. Although he will miss his White Oaks students very much, he picked Syl Apps because he thinks drama might be useful for the incarâ€" cerated students in building selfâ€" confidence. "... the students can release their tension through drama. I have a soft spot for troubled students; the change will be interesting," he says.