Like all the best dreams, PCPA’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is filled with magic, divine characters, and a whimsical plot. Fantasy, laughter, and love mix to create a bewitching tale of love sought, love lost, and love found.
With so much love flowing, it was fitting that PCPA would present its opening night of one of Shakespeare’s most romantic plays on Valentine’s Day. Maybe it was one too many chocolates—or perhaps Puck himself was causing a little mischief—but the love overflowed into the audience, which enjoyed an incredible, spot-on performance by the cast.
As with love, the plot is confusing. Fortunately, there’s a playbook. In short, the story boasts three different plots that interconnect. Lysander and Hermia are in love. But Demetrius also loves Hermia. Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius, so Hermia and Lysander elope. Hermia confides in her friend Helena, who loves Demetrius. Demetrius despises Helena, so to gain his affection, she tells Demetrius of Hermia and Lysander’s plans. Demetrius follows the couple into the woods and Helena follows Demetrius. This all occurs on the eve of the wedding of the duke.
Meanwhile, Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies, are having a spat. To get his way, Oberon instructs Puck to fetch a magical flower whose juice, when dripped on someone’s eyes, causes that person to fall in love with the first live thing he or she sees. But before anointing Titania with the magical juice, Oberon sees Demetrius rebuking Helena. Feeling sorry for the poor maiden, Oberon tells Puck to anoint Demetrius so he can share Helena’s passion. Only Puck anoints the wrong mortal.
Later, Oberon anoints Titania with the magic and she awakens to fall in love with a beast. Confused yet? Wait, there’s more.
A ragtag band of thespians is also in the forest rehearsing for a play they hope to present to the duke on his wedding day. Puck transforms one of the actors into the beast Titania falls in love with. In the end, the story proves, whether mortal or magical, love conquers all.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is considered one of Shakespeare’s most magical and romantic comedies. It’s spawned 17 film productions, including a 1935 version featuring a young Mickey Rooney as Puck and a 1999 production starring Calista Flockhart, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Kevin Klein.
In the PCPA version, the tale is luxuriously set in India, allowing set designer Andrew Layton, costume designer Misti Bradford, and lighting designer “Z” Zornow and their teams to transform the ancient Athens of Shakespeare’s original play to a place of palaces and celestial kingdoms. Fairies abound, leaping and cavorting with a Cirque du Soleil type of vibe.
The enchanting set is enriched by the cast’s fine acting. PCPA’s artistic director, Mark Booher, brings a commanding presence as he leads the cast in the role of Oberon. Rounding out the characters are resident artists Michael Jenkinson as Demetrius, Vanessa Ballam as Helena, Andrew Philpot as Peter Quince, Corey Jones as Nick Bottom, Elizabeth Stuart as Titania, and Colum Parke Morgan as Theseus. Jerry Lee steals several scenes and gets a lot of laughs as Flute, the thespian in the woods practicing the part of Thisbie for the play within the play. His character’s horribly terrible acting and physical comedy are outrageously funny and had the Valentine’s Day audience roaring with laughter.
Puck, arguably one of the most famous characters of the play, has to be played excellently: Too elfish, and you’ve got Peter Pan. Too scary, and you’ve got a nightmare instead of a dream. Peter S. Hadres finds the perfect middle ground. Hadres transforms so thoroughly into an impish Puck with tones of mischief and a slightly dark edge, it’s almost hard to believe he’s played such extremely diverse roles as he has in Art, Ragtime, and, most recently, White Christmas.
The set is lavish, the acting is superb, and the plot is charming and laugh-out-loud hilarious. The show can’t be missed. m
Arts Editor Shelly Cone dresses lavishly, acts charming, and is superbly hilarious. You can’t miss her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 19-26, 2009.