Until this weekend, the acting experience of Chaffee fifth-grader Nicole Lynn consisted primarily of speaking one line in a church Christmas play. But a day after seeing the troupe ACTER perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Friday night, she found herself playing the role of Hermia alongside Shakespearean actors.

Nicole participated in "Having Fun with Shakespeare," one of three workshops led Saturday by members of ACTER. The five British actors were in residence at Southeast all last week, teaching classes, conducting workshops and giving performances.

The workshop participants staged the opening scene of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the University Center Ballroom. The pretend gates of the palace were opened, the Amazon women sang a fanfare, and Egeus followed by Demetrius, Lysander and Hermia entered for an audience with Theseus, Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons.

Fourteen-year-old David Koeller, who recently appeared in the River City Players' production of "On Golden Pond," played Egeus, who wants the duke to compel Hermia, Egeus' daughter, to marry Demetrius.

"I don't think you're someone who likes to be disobeyed at all," ACTER member Peter Lindford told him after the first run-through.

Egeus was decidedly angrier the next time through.

ACTER's Henrietta Bess cajoled a reluctant Nicole into taking the part of Hermia. Afterward Bess, who is Hermia in the play, said she picked Nicole out because she read the part well and appeared just to need some encouragement.

"I'm looking for someone who might be able to give it something more," Bess said.

Nicole has watched "Hamlet" on video at the urging of her sister, Tonya, a high school senior who played Hippolyta Saturday. "I found out Shakespeare has some pretty interesting plays," Nicole said.

Seeing the play Friday night made Nicole want to come to the workshop, which her mother, Maria, also attended.

"I wanted to see what the actors are trying to do when they act it out," she said.

Southeast accounting professor David Dearman was brought by his sons Dustin and Daniel. Dustin is a 10th-grader and Daniel a fifth-grader at Jackson schools. Dustin, who had the role of Demetrius, previously played Puck in a "Midsummer Night's Dream" production in Arkansas.

Dearman himself did some acting in high school and played Theseus regally. He applauds his boys' interest in the theater.

"These people are alive and thrive and they enjoy being with other people," he said. "Bonds among actors are bonds among people."

ACTER is halfway through a six-week tour of the U.S. Bess said the students are different from place to place.

"I love the pupils here in Missouri," she said. "They are willing to get up and have a go."

Both actors and audience members raved about Friday night's SRO performance of the play, which was attended by many Southeast students.

"I have rarely been in an auditorium when there has been that kind of reaction," Lindford said. "I think it was because we've been playing in front of these same faces all week. It was actually moving at the end."

After their final performance here Saturday night, the ACTER members were to fly off to Delaware to start the cycle of performances and teaching all over again.

When she finally returns to London, Bess plans to rest and do voice-over work. She is the voice of British Airways. Her recording tells passengers about safety procedures once they're on the plane.

The irony is that she herself is not at ease while flying. That makes things all the more difficult for her when she boards British Airways planes, she says. "I don't fly well and I'm telling me about flying well."

Lindford plans simply to go home and rest. "This is the most exhausting job you will ever do as an actor," he said. "It never lets up."