THEATER: A Midsummer Night's Dream

There is a reason that William Shakespeare’s plays are still popular and Millbrook Playhouse proved why with their production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Whether it was your first experience with the Bard or whether you could recite lines along with the actors, director Teresa Pond provided everyone with a delightful evening.

This season has seen some beautiful and meaningful sets at Millbrook, but scenic designer Mark DeLancy out-did himself with this one. The forest was deceptively realistic, until the fairies turned it into a magical place with surprising openings and nooks and crannies perfect for sleeping lovers.

Costumes also went from the elegant early 1900’s to the fantasy of the fairy kingdom. Roejendra Adams has covered almost 100 years’ worth of costumes this summer: 1950’s greasers, 1940’s Nazis, and now 1911’s lovers. She has done her research well.

Now to the actors, I do not know where to begin. It seems a given that any actor worthy of his craft has Shakespearean training. That does not mean that every actor is good. Millbrook seemed to find the good ones and several excellent ones.  I have said it before, but the fun part of a theater like Millbrook is getting a chance to see actors in a variety of roles as well as seeing some great new talent.

The “Players” are always the high light of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and this cast was no exception. Cory Lawson in the challenging role of Bottom/Pyramus, Charlynn Knighton as Starveling/Moon, good old stand-by Richard Guido as Snout/ Wall, Brian Lose as a very lovable Snug/Lion and local Johnny Haussener, in bad drag, as Flute/ Thisbe were all terrific.

Lawrence Lesher has also been a regular at Millbrook and is a constant surprise of talent. His “direction” of the Players was so delightfully inept.

Amanda Hibbler, Lizzie Harless, Kali Haines, and Olivia Hanna were lovely to look at (costumes were wonderful) and were also as fey as woodland fairies should be.

Christopher Scheer and Mary Malaney in the dual roles of Oberon/Theseus and Titania/ Hippolyta made the king and queen of the fairies very sexy. They had the best opportunity to show that they could handle the challenge of the very different roles. The lovers were well cast. Katrina Michaels (Hermia) and Jonathan Minton (Demetrius) were new names to me and were both impressive. Lysander was more than ably played by Josh Houghton. Josh is another example of why I love places like Millbrook. Anyone who can go from Snoopy to Shakespeare is all right with me.

Madeline Wise as Helena was outstanding. Her understanding of the part, her delivery, and her comic timing all added up to a perfect performance. Madeline is another actor that I would love to see in other roles.

Holding the show together was musician Toby O’Brian who allowed his guitar to speak for him and Ariel Marcus as a very, very energetic Puck.

For anyone who thinks that Shakespeare is boring should have seen this funny, farcical, slap-stick production. It made for a fast and fun evening.

The last show on the Main Stage will be Always…Patsy Cline opening on July 26th. Boeing, Boeing is currently in the Cabaret. Call 570-748-8083 for more information.