The SBCA Drama Team recently wrapped up A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Every great production begins with prayer, and each SBCA rehearsal opens by asking St. Genesius, the patron saint of actors, to pray for us.

St. Genesius has a quiet presence in every SBCA production. Genesius was an actor in ancient Rome in 303 A.D. He performed in comedies and theatrical works, often mocking Christianity on stage. During one performance, while parodying Christian baptism, something unexpected happened. In the middle of the act, Genesius experienced a conversion. He stopped the play, proclaimed his faith in Christ, and refused to deny it even when threatened with death. His courage ultimately cost him his life, and he is remembered as a saint who embodied honesty, faith, and bravery on stage.

Although A Midsummer Night’s Dream was written in 1595 as a comedy, striking connections can still be drawn between its characters and the life of St. Genesius. In Act One, Hermia enters as a fiery young Athenian, willing to make a great sacrifice for love. She courageously refuses to marry a man she does not love and remains truthful about her devotion to Lysander, even in the face of severe consequences.

However, it is the character of Demetrius who most closely mirrors the journey of St. Genesius. In the first act, Demetrius stands with Hermia’s father, Egeus, demanding that Hermia marry him or face punishment. He pursues her not out of love, but out of arrogance and entitlement. His actions are driven by selfishness and a desire for approval from the powerful Egeus.

Demetrius undergoes a dramatic transformation while lost in the forest. In this place of confusion and vulnerability, he comes to recognize his error and discovers a true and faithful love for Helena. He proclaims:

“… the faith, the virtue of my heart,
The object and the pleasure of mine eye,
Is only Helena. To her, my lord,
Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
But like a sickness did I loathe this food.
But, as in health, come to my natural taste,
Now I do wish it, love it, long for it,
And will forevermore be true to it.”

This moment of clarity echoes the conversion of St. Genesius. Like Demetrius, Genesius had been playing a false role, mocking what he did not understand and seeking approval from his audience without regard for truth. In a moment of transformation, Genesius recognized his true love: Christ. From that moment on, he could no longer continue in a role that was false or cruel.

Just as Demetrius comes to his senses after being anointed with a flower, Genesius is awakened by grace. Both characters turn away from deception and toward truth, choosing truth and love over comfort and approval. Their stories remind us that transformation often comes unexpectedly, and when it does, it demands courage.

AUTHOR: Jane Bleakley, Fine Arts Teacher & Director of the SBCA Drama Team