With the cool outdoor breeze, the flowing water in the background and the microphone-less actors, one could mistake Not-So Royal Shakespeare’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for the Globe Theater itself with the Thames off to the side. Perched on Holy Cross Hill next to Saint Mary’s Lake, six actors took on 20 character roles and, surprise to many in the audience, pulled it off amazingly.
I have seen a few “Midsummers” in my time, but in all honestly, the creativity and talent from the six actors in this NSR production push this version up on my list. I came into the show expecting a silly, fun, lighthearted performance from actors looking for a break from studying for finals. What I got was a funny and genuinely well-performed show that was still serious in its acting. The costumes were limited yet practical. Each character had one article of clothing to identify themselves, whether it was Puck’s vest, Hermia’s flower, Demetrius’ necktie or Bottom’s bandana. When actors were playing multiple roles even in one scene, having one identifier helped tremendously to keep things neat and clear. In scenes where one actor was having a conversation with themselves as two different characters, another character would hold up the clothing symbol; through a brief suspension of disbelief, it was easy to see that the “floating” crown was Oberon or the baseball cap was Lysander.
The set was even more limited, with nothing more than a couple of cushions to symbolize where people were sleeping. Yet, the nature of the show hardly warrants more than that. The “backstage” was clearly visible to the audience, but it was not necessarily trying to hide. They used picnic blankets and baskets to contain costumes and props, but it blended perfectly with the scenery to give the essence of a summertime picnic with fairies.
The actor carried scripts, and occasionally there were pauses in scenes, whether due to actors needing to flip pages or remember blocking, but the more amateur aspects of the play were overshadowed by the strength each person brought to each scene. The relationships between the characters were bold, comedic and perfectly theatrical. I completely believed that Ellie Heckman’s Titania was enamored with the donkey-head-clad Bottom, played by Christina Grasso. Even the actor playing an actor playing a lion in “Pyramus and Thisbe” gave a thrilling performance, and the Wall – brought to life through a Trump impression – gave it his all (No one does walls better than him. He is, as they say, the Best wall).
While the show was not perfect, NSR presented a surprisingly fun and impressive “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” With six actors carrying 20 characters’ worth of heart and effort, a funny, talent-filled production can brighten any viewer’s day.
