A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM: Shakespeare To 5 September.
Tour.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
by WilliamShakespeare.
Illyria Theatre Company Tour to 5 September 2009.
Runs 2hr 30min One interval.
Review: Alan Geary 10 July at Newstead Abbey.
It sparkles.
Yet another open-air Dream? Well, it’s an outdoor favourite, of course, but Illyria (director Oliver Gray) give us a whole lot of other reasons to see it again.
Gray could have done with one more actor, but five of them make a virtue out of the shortage. They manage to play the Athenian court and nobility, the low-lifers with their regional accents and, with a bit of audience imagination willingly thrown in, the fairies as well. Particularly at the end, when Bottom and Co are presenting their play, each of the actors contrives to be in two places at once.
The musical element falls a trifle flat but there are many splendid moments. The funniest scene is in the woods when the confusion is at its height and people keep getting hit with a frying pan. Helena (splendidly done by Emmeline Prior, who also acts Titania) is making her long speech of woe oblivious to the rivals fighting over her; she even persists with it while she’s being torn in two.
Alistair Chisholm is actually moving, as well as funny as Bottom.
The deep discord between Oberon (Richard Took) and Titania is conveyed at their first appearance together by good acting and fine delivery of text. Took, in particular, is in fine voice, as Theseus as well as Oberon; his pronunciation of some of the lines is often thrilling. Respect for text delivery is a feature of the whole production - the “ion” ending of a word is often given two syllables.
It’s a brilliant touch to have Oberon and Titania on stilts: it makes them commanding, unworldly and disturbing.
This production doesn’t just give us a fresh look at the play; it sparkles with vitality.
Cast - main roles indicated:
Alastair Chisholm - Demetrius.
Robert Took.
Emmeline Prior.
Martin Clark - Philostrate, Lysandeer.
Lizzy Dive - Hyppolyta, Hermia, Puck.
Director: Oliver Gray.
Music: Eva Gilvory.
2009-07-14 12:17:50