Not even a two-hour delay could stop this Tuesday matinee. On Tuesday, January 28th, the Camden High School theatre department presented its 32nd Annual Shakespeare Competition. In front of friends, family, students, and staff, ten finalists took to the stage - each in a spotlight of their own - to deliver impassioned monologues from the works of Shakespeare.
The ten finalists were selected from an original field of nineteen participants, representing some of the most talented students the Camden High School theatre department has to offer. The first round was held prior to Regents week.
The senior-laden field in the finals was also one of the most experienced on record, and included 2024 champion Owen Carr. For approximately 2 to 3 minutes each, they portrayed a wide range of characters from classics such as Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Taming of the Shrew, among others.
Among the audience was a group of familiar and knowledgeable judges to grade the students on their work. Retired English teachers Dr. Wayne Edkin and Patty Kimball were on the panel this year. They were joined by current Camden Middle School mathematics teacher and drama club advisor Chelsea Light Morrison. Robin Edkin, who brought the contest to Camden over three decades ago, was also in attendance.
After the group finished performing, the judges recused themselves to a separate room to deliberate on the results.
Earning the two honorable mention honors this year were Owen Carr for his portrayal of Iago from Othello, and Isabella Wing for her rendition of a passage by Ophelia from Hamlet.
Ranking in third place was Alyssa Vera for her portrayal of Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. Vera was a 2024 Honorable Mention.
Gage Grinnell landed the runner-up spot for his monologue from Much Ado About Nothing, in which he played the role of Benedick.
The 2025 Camden High School Shakespeare Competition champion was Sydney Matthews. Matthews powered through an excerpt of Act 4, Scene 4 of Richard III, in which she portrayed Queen Margaret.
Also competing were Mady Redden, Ryan Brown, EleanorAnne Kratz, Hannah Smith, and Hailey Hicks.
The CHS Competition is part of a larger National Shakespeare Competition held annually by the English Speaking Union. Since starting in 1983, the national competition has put hundreds of thousands of young people on stage to step out of their comfort zone and perform Shakespeare.
Sydney’s victory allows her to advance to regional competition, which will be held at Syracuse Stage. She will have to prepare a monologue and sonnet in this round of competition. The winner of the regional round receives a trip to the national finals in New York City, where they receive the opportunity to sightsee, work with professionals, see a broadway production, and perform their national finals work at the internationally-renowned Lincoln Center. The national finals will be held in late April.
