Love does not always follow its true course.

Within these words of Shakespeare from A Midsummer Night's Dream lies the basis of this classic romantic comedy, where trickery causes lovers to mix and match with peculiar outcomes. The School of Theatre will perform this play at 8 p.m. today through Nov. 23 at the Pavilion Theatre. A matinee will also be performed at 2 p.m. Nov. 23.

"This is the best combination of love, comedy and magic," Director Bonnie Mill (graduate-fine arts) said.

Classic in nature, A Midsummer Night's Dream takes on a more modern context, exploring the dream world versus the reality world. In the traditional version, the scene is set in the woods. Here, the idea is to illuminate the story more into a dream state, Mill said.

Cast members bring their own sense of passion and love to this production. Carla and Mark Olsen, both faculty members at Penn State, bring their own "real-life" romanticism to this play. Married in real life, the Olsens' characters, Theseus and Hippolyta, are also supposed to wed in the play. "This gives more of a particularly romantic feel to the play," Mark Olsen, who teaches movement and acting in the School of Theatre, said.

Along with the Olsens, Wilson Hutton, a professional actor of 14 years, is also part of the Penn State faculty. Working in public relations for University Libraries, Wilson plays Egeus, the villain who sets the plot in motion. Olsen has also had experience with Shakespearean plays in the past while performing in The State College Shakespeare Festival.

"This performance is more like what you'd see in a Broadway house," Wilson said.

Although there are similarities to Broadway, certain elements of this performance are like no other production of A Midsummer Night's Dream -- like the strong use of emotion and feeling. Devin R. Oliver (freshman-theatre) plays an essential element, which is a character that expresses the emotions and moods of others in the dream world.

"Most people hear the word Shakespeare and turn their face. But with A Midsummer Night's Dream, anyone can connect and relate with love and dreaming," Oliver said.