Bethel Bits: Shakespeare and live theatre
Non-theatre major Jamie Krause stars in Bethel University’s current play, “As You Like It”.
By Callie Schmidt | Royal Report
He hears a huge commotion and looks to see people throwing chairs and stage fighting. Someone really caught up in the moment kicks a pillow and it lands in the audience.
Bethel University senior Jamie Krause and fellow actors huddle backstage, wondering if they should try to retrieve the pillow or pretend it never happened.
Live theatre means expecting the unexpected.
A senior English literature and writing major at Bethel, Krause can be found on stage acting, singing and dancing, though he readily admits to disliking the dancing part. Krause can also be found singing tenor for Bethel Choir.
Krause plays a lead role in Bethel’s play premiering April 21, As You Like It — a Shakespearean romantic comedy. This is Krause’s sixth play at Bethel.
“Shakespeare is weird because you can make it weird. You can have everyone talk in weird accents if you want — you get the chance to make it your own,” Krause said. “You get to ask, what do I think is going to make people laugh? And I don’t want to toot my own horn, but it’s really funny.”
Krause plays nobleman Orlando, and senior Kelly Anderson plays lead Rosalind.
“I’ve definitely forgotten a line that needs to happen,” — Jamie Krause, senior
Krause acted in a musical his freshman year at Chippewa Falls High School; his first theatre experience other than church plays.
“I’ve definitely forgotten a line that needs to happen,” Krause said. “So everyone else is like, ‘well…if you had said this, then I definitely would have said this thing,’ and they keep going and I’m just standing there like oh no, that wasn’t obvious at all.”
Krause wishes he had taken theatre classes to become a better actor, although he’s thankful the Bethel Theatre Department allows students with night classes to be involved.
Currently taking a Shakespeare literature class, Krause aspires to write fiction novels someday.
