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A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT
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Rating:
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- It might have been the biggest night in British football, but judging by the rapturous applause at the end of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, most of the Globe’s audience wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. For director Jonathan Munby has taken Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy of errors, bound it in a tapestry of music, magic and madcap ebullience, and launched an irrepressible crowd pleaser.
Following a slow start, Mike Britton’s austere design and Munby’s initially subdued production is transformed. Heroin-chic fairies in tattered tutus plant bright pink flowers to recreate a mythical wood, the lovers shed their sumptuous black gowns to reveal light, summer frocks and the high-velocity magic begins.
Like his memorable production of ‘Nakamitsu’ at the Gate last year, Munby (working here with composer Olly Fox) reminds us of his skill in creating luscious, multi-sensory theatre. Here, the sense of otherworldliness is underpinned by an ethereal score, where celtic folk collides with chimes, gongs and foot-tapping big band swing.
Munby’s cast turn out some great performances, particularly Laura Rogers, whose Helena is a feisty heroine unafraid to knee her beloved Demetrius (Oliver Boot) in the goolies when she thinks he’s taking the proverbial. The Mechanicals’ re-enactment of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ is hilarious, with Paul Hunter’s madcap Bottom stealing the show.
Purists may object to its wild, almost ‘Carry on Shakespeare’ energy, its unforgivably giant, luminous condom (I think it’s meant to be a moon) and the fact that beyond the laughs there’s little else here. But you’ll probably be having too much fun to care.
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Details
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT
- 020 7401 9919
- Category: West End
- Times: Sat, Mon & Wed 7.30pm, Tue Mat 2pm
- Price: £5-£33. In rep
- Tube: London Bridge/Blackfriars
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5 comments
A rollicking good night out for a fiver in London? Surely not. A bottle of plonk, a few cans of something to imbibe the spirit and settle in for a night that will leave you with aching and a morning smile to confuse your fellow drones. You might be here for the star names and Siobhan Redmond is no disappointment, a nutty tortuous Celtic Titania, I'll leave the purists to work what on earth a Scots Fairy Queen is doing wandering around an Athenian wood! However this is a magicent ensemble production with a Bottom that would defy the most stoical misanthrope to crack a smile. This may never go down as a great production but that's for the RSC and corporate canape crowd, this is one for the fans not the affianados. When the actors are clearly enjoying themselves as much as us groundlings, the three hours while away and all too soon it is time to depart. One pedant's complaint, far too pretty a Helena, why did the sitors need faiory potions to open their eyes?
I thoroughly enjoyed this boisterous Midsummer and agree with the reviewer's comments about Laura Rogers as Helena. she was luminous and i can see her becoming a star. Paul Hunter as Bottom stole the show. Hilarious. I came all the way from Connecticut to see this. What a joy.
The best thing about the evening was the beaker of hot vegetable soup at the interval - truly memorable. No wonder there were so much dashing ff the stage into the into the audience, I thought they were training for the Olympics. They were just trying to keep warm. Straw on the floor as in the old days might have helped - Cheers, Mike95
One of the most wonderful production. It is amazing when you leave the theatre with that sweet smile in your face. Actors, director, scenery simply magical.
Simply delightful! I cannot think of a nicer evening out than watching this wonderfully funny production of Dream with the sun setting overhead.