A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Cititour.com Review
“Oh, what fools these mortals be,” proclaims the mischievous sprite Puck in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” but rarely has this oft-quoted statement seemed truer than in Lear DeBessonet’s often hilarious, ultimately touching, and consistently magical production of this beloved work, now at the Delacorte Theater.
Indeed, everyone on David Rockwell’s gorgeous (and beautifully-lit) revolving stage set – mortal and god alike -- acts stupidly, idiotically or ill-advisedly, reminding all of us of our frailties. Yet, as we laugh uproariously at these sharply drawn characters, we are also laughing at ourselves.
Take Egeus (David Manis), the overbearing father who insists that his feisty daughter Hermia (a delicious Shalita Grant) forego marrying her true love, Lysander (a fine Kyle Beltran) – and face the nunnery in the process – in favor of wedding his choice, the equally upstanding Demetrius (the highly athletic and attractive Alex Hernandez), for whom she feels nothing.
Meanwhile, Demetrius steadfastly refuses to accept the affections of the lovestruck Helena (Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford in a performance so extraordinary in both its physical comedy and vocal inflections it deserves a special award), who will do just about anything to get her man and change his mind.
And then there is another set of silly mortals, the Mechanicals, a troupe of terrible would-be-actors led by carpenter Peter Quince (an effective Robert Joy), and including the extremely vain, over-confident Nick Bottom (an incredibly brilliant Danny Burstein) and the initially shy Francis Flute (an absolutely hysterical Jeff Hiller), who takes to his cross-dressing role of Thisbe in the show’s play-within-a-play with shocking (and presumably life-changing) abandon.
Oh, I did mention gods, right? Puck’s master, the fairy king Oberon (a commanding Richard Poe) risks his marriage to soulmate Titania (a magnificently regal Phylicia Rashad) over jealousy about a changeling boy she has adopted. In an act of revenge, he casts a spell where she falls in love with Bottom, who has been transformed into a donkey, and these too-brief scenes are among the show’s highlights. Ultimately, though, Oberon comes to his senses – as does everyone else (with a little otherworldly help) – ensuring a most happy ending.
Like with many Shakespeare in the Park productions, there’s a certain amount of multi-cultural, gender-bending casting, but it rarely distracts here. And even if I can’t intellectually explain the presence of an onstage band, I was thrilled every time the charismatic singer Marcelle Davies-Lashley appeared for another musical interlude.
While there’s not a weak performer in this large ensemble – including the inimitable Kristine Nielsen as a rather unusual Puck -- perhaps the real star of the production is costume designer Clint Ramos. His clever, colorful and eye-popping ensembles are the best I’ve ever seen in the Park. (And double kudos to Ramos for the Beyonce-like dress worn by the stunning De’Adre Aziza as the Amazonian queen Hippolyta!)
While the show runs close to three hours, no matter. This is a “Dream” you’ll never want to awaken from.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
https://www.publictheater.org/Public-Theater-Season/A-Midsummer-Nights-Dream
Cast
Annaleigh Ashford, De’Adre Aziza, Kyle Beltran, Vinie Burrows, Danny Burstein, Justin Cunningham, Marcelle Davies-Lashley, Austin Durant, Shalita Grant, Keith Hart, Alex Hernandez, Jeff Hiller, Robert Joy, Patricia Lewis, David Manis, Pamela McPherson-Cornelius, Patrena Murray, Kristine Nielsen, Bhavesh Patel, Richard Poe, Phylicia Rashad, Joe Tapper, Judith Wagner, Warren Wyss, Benjamin Ye
Open/Close Dates
Opening 7/11/2017
Closing 8/13/2017
Box Office
212-539-8500
Theatre Info
Delacorte Theater
Central Park (81st St & CPW or 79th St & Fifth Av)
New York, NY
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