A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. To 28 February.
London.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
by William Shakespeare.
Southwark Playhouse Shipwright Yard (corner of Tooley St and Bermondsey St) SE1 2TF To 28 February 2009.
19-21, 27-28 Feb 7.30pm Mat Sat 3pm (other dates sold out).
Runs 2hr 10min One interval.,
TICKETS: 020 7407 0234.
www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 18 February.
Athens, Japan brings fresh light in place of traditional Athens, England.
Good theatre needs a sense of direction and Jonathan Man’s culturally cross-cast production moves eastwards, to Japan. A few name-changes and brief bursts of Japanese enforce the point, but there’s a wider impact. Southwark Playhouse’s young cast may not have the experience to make the most of all the verse (though they’re never less than competent), but they point up the outbreak of disorder within a society traditionally seen as highly ordered.
The action’s played over the stepped levels of a bare wooden stage which runs almost the length of the theatre between two banks of audience. On this stage the lovers bow low before Daimyo Theseus, not daring to look at each other until Lysander shifts around when left alone with Hermia.
There are sizeable cuts and, as so often, different stories have different levels of success. Here, the mechanicals are truncated, and their Pyramus and Thisbe presentation suggests comedy isn’t the production’s strong suit. The plot of the fairy world is pretty muted too; understanding the changeling-boy motive would take pre-knowledge or very close listening. Yet the supernatural world of the woods emerges strongly, through masks, fluttered fans (one’s used to dispense the magic herb to Titania) and ultra-violet.
But it’s the world of the lovers which takes the foreground here. Their ordered opening before Theseus becomes a whirl in the forest. How does a well-brought up girl like Julia Sandiford’s Helena turn into the uncontrolled person of the quarrel with Hemia? Years of obedience at home contribute maybe, and the confusing whirl of youthful emotions as rejection’s followed by an apparent mocking conspiracy. She is truly “wood (‘mad’) within this wood” as both young men struggle to contain her.
Notable moments include Nina Kwok’s laughing disbelief when Demetrius rejects Hermia, followed by stunned silence when she realises he’s serious. Or Helena’s wondering look back at the woodland as the lovers leave. Add David Lee Jones’ strongly-spoken Demetrius and Jay Oliver Yip’s Puck, with his flapping, butterfly-like movement and a speed along the stage creating a sense of flight and this is a Dream worth staying awake for.
Theseus/Oberon: Kenji Watanabe.
Hippolyta/Titania: You-Ri Yamanaka.
Egeus/Puck/Quince: Jay Oliver Yip.
Demetrius/Flute: David Lee Jones.
Helena/Starveling: Julia Sandiford.
Lysander/Bottom: Matt McCooey.
Hermia/Snug: Nina Kwok.
Director: Jonathan Man.
Designer: Wai Yin Kwok.
Lighting: Chris Pye.
Sound: Cos Chapman.
Movement director: Billy Sy.
Movement consultant: Tanroh Ishida.
2009-02-19 09:58:14