A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. To 30 August.
London.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by William Shakespeare.
Open Air Theatre Regent's Park In rep to 30 August 2006.
Mon-Sat 8pm mat 28 June, 6, 8, 29 July, 26 August 2.30pm.
BSL Signed 6 July mat & eve.
Runs 2hr 45min One interval.
TICKETS: 08700 601811.
www.openairtheatre.org
Review: Timothy Ramsden 22 June.
Without which summer just wouldn't be...
Outdoor theatre often means audiences who can't (and don't) wait for an interval to picnic, biting insects and noisy aircraft. But Regent's Park manages to minimise the inconveniences (they've only the helicopters to sort out still) whilst providing a high-class of production and performance. Of course, there's the weather, but given a half-decent evening a performance here is generally a joy.
And a half-decent evening is what I got: cool, windy and dry. Just the opposite of this enjoyable production. Park Theatre supremo Ian Talbot knows the Open Air (like the BBC Proms) attracts people who don't attend performances through the winter season but there's nowhere this production plays down to audiences. Always accessible to Midsummer Night’s virgins, it also has plenty of detailed colouring.
So Duke Theseus' support for angry father Egeus leads to his bride-to-be Hippolyta stalking off, rejecting him as firmly as ever an Isabella did Measure for Measure's Duke. Hermia's preferred lover Lysander, in candy-striped blazer, stands out against her father's choice Demetrius, who shares a uniform with the other men standing around. No wonder they step forward on behalf of one of their number to restrain this playboy.
Talbot doesn't double the Athenian royals with the fairy monarchs Oberon and Titania, but it's clear the forest folk share human emotions, yet are able to show them without social restraints. Sirine Saba's a sexy Titania; no sooner does her drugged affection sight the donkey Bottom than she's seducing him with eyes, voice and limbs.
It seems you have to be a monarch in this fairy world to have any hair. The bare-crowned fairies are a cheeky, scampering, monkey-minded lot, who love imitating behaviour they observe. None more so than Gerard Carey’s Puck, believably someone who enjoys mischief as he mimics Bottom’s rehearsal manner before planting an unusually full ass-head on the weaver.
John Hodgkinson’s upright bearing neatly sets off Bottom’s pushiness while Timothy Kightley is a patient Peter Quince, only occasionally losing his temper. And the lovers are well-played, Sheridan Smith’s Hermia registering surprises from the opening scene. A Dream that more than does its job.
Theseus: James Wallace.
Hippolyta: Billie-Claire Wright.
Lysander: Dominic Marsh.
Demetrius: David Partridge.
Hermia: Sheridan Smith.
Helena: Summer Strallen.
Egeus: Andrew Melville.
Philostrate: Stuart Nurse.
Peter Quince: Timothy Kightley.
Nick Bottom: John Hodgkinson.
Francis Flute: Thomas Aldridge.
Tom Snout: David Burrows.
Snug: Leo Conville.
Robing Starveling: Michael Medwin.
Oberon: Steven Pacey.
Titania: Sirine Saba.
Puck: Gerard Carey.
1st Fairy: Selina Chilton.
Peaaseblossom: James Bisp.
Cobweb: Matt Dempsey.
Moth: Helen Owen.
Mustardseed: Martin McCarthy.
Phlox: Haley Flaherty.
Director: Ian Talbot.
Designer: Kit Surrey.
Lighting: Jason Taylor.
Sound: Gregory Clarke/Colin Pink.
Composer: Catherine Jayes.
Movement: Gillian Gregory.
Voice coach: Mel Churcher.
Assistant director: Robert Cameron.
2006-06-25 17:10:11