Set in the beautiful Lincoln Lawns, outdoor Shakespeare is bound to be a treat. Presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream in such stunning a setting at sunset is a recipe for true magic.
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| The setting of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Photo taken Jamie Marcus Productions' Facebook page: from https://www.facebook.com/jamiemarcusproductions/photos |
The cast were terrific, each perfectly chosen for their role and the chemistry between them was spot on as they bounced off each other's energy. The charming Oberon commanded the stage whenever he appeared, giving a real air of authority to the role. He instructed Puck, who was mischievous and animated yet clearly devoted to his Fairy King. Titania brought sass to the role - she was Queen of the fairies and she knew it. Bottom is perhaps the most fun character to play but the most difficult to pull off, yet this Bottom was as hilarious as could be while still evoking feelings of sympathy. The mechanicals stepped up to match him with their own colourful personalities and the production of Pyramus and Thisbe left audience members in fits of laughter. The four lovers had fantastic timing and physical theatre skills, bringing out the comedy and emotion in Shakespeare's lines while following the fast pace that their scenes require.
It was brilliant to see the stage from Wind in the Willows being adapted for this play. The riverbank of the daytime was transformed into a magical woodland with very little effort thanks to the surrounding trees and setting sun. The costumes added to this: although vibrant and colourful, the forest tones of the fairies' outfits contributed to the overall atmosphere and made it feel like you were watching woodland nymphs go about their nightly mischief.
It is impossible for me to write about a Shakespeare production without a word about that particular production's relevance. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a favourite among directors, performers and audiences as it is rich with possibilities - the magical element makes it feel like anything is possible. This director chose to keep casting straightforward, only swapping genders for characters such as Puck and the mechanicals where it doesn't really matter, and the text itself was uncut and unchanged. This gave the production a traditional feel, keeping things as per the text without any distracting gimmicks. In today's times, bringing this play back to basics felt poignant and desperately needed: right now we want familiarity and security, and something to simply make us laugh without having to think too hard about it.
This play was a celebration of theatre, laughter, and being together. A real treat and a true triumph, and everyone involved should be incredibly proud.
