GCT Presents Fanciful 'Dream'
April 26, 2008
By BRANIMIR M. RIEGER
Special to the Index-Journal
Greenwood, SC - It is always pleasing to see a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" because it reminds us of the magic and splendor of the theater.
| No play better explores love in all its wonder and complexities than Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy, which Greenwood Community Theatre has revived. The story is brought to life with some energetic acting, lighting design, stunning costuming and innovative set designs. |
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Often described as Shakespeare's frothiest and most accessible play, the local humorous production contains some infectious laughs. Director Bess Park knows this and plays it for the light fun it is.
The play is about a quartet of lovers, a hilariously inept theater troupe and a batch of romantic entanglements that intertwine both the real and fantasy world. Every actor pulled their weight and the two worlds - the mortals and fairies - were brought together smoothly.
There is a folk belief that the extreme heat of summer is a cause of madness, hence the phrase "midsummer madness." In Shakespeare's fantasy world love gets crazy, goes astray and gets complicated until resolved by the forces of nature.
The marriage festivities of the rulers of Athens, Duke Theseus (Hobie Chandler) and the Amazonian Queen Hippolyta (Mary Lyle Smith) serve as the back ground plot or frame of the play. Besides this plot there is the story of two couples lost in the woods, which straddles a fine line between comedy and tragedy, between reality and dream.
The lovers, Lysander (Caleb Brannen) and Demetrius (David Ouzts) who are the recipients of a rare love potion, Helena (Julie Dean), the piqued object of desire, and Hermia (Bethany Mlinar), the jilted beauty, all could end up tragic victims.
Instead, Shakespeare focuses on the comedy which is initiated when Puck (Laura Walenceus) gets confused over instructions from his master Oberon (David Byars).
The fights and quarrels between the quartet are marvelously choreographed and very funny indeed.
Equally riotous are the antics of the amateur players, The Rude Mechanicals, with their rehearsals and subsequent inept performances of the play "Pyramus and Thisbe."
As always they stole the show with their wit and invention, and provided numerous laughs with their climatic (and disastrous) performance of the play. Issac Young's rollicking Bottom takes longer to die than any other ham actor in history.
In addition, Bottom's magical transformation into a floppy-eared donkey and his uproarious brief relationship with the love-struck Titania (Andre Michelle) provide many opportunities for illusions, special effects and comedy.
Ken Hokanson's Francis Flute is frolicsome in pulling off the drag role of Thisbe.
Their director, Peter Quince (Wally Dorn) is played with a mirthful verve that causes giggles in the audience.
Laura Walenceus playing the mischievous satyr-like Puck captures his joy at making mistaking in following orders.
The costuming, lighting and music were well chosen for this play by Park, who has used her extensive training in dance and choreography to create numerous flighty and fanciful dances for the fairies, most played by a host of children and teenagers.
The moonlight was filled with creative approaches in enhancing the many moods. The soft moonlight serves as a perfect instrument from nature to make things seems not quite what they are.
The use of the stage was excellent. A bridge across the middle of the stage creativity showed how quick one can travel from the real to an imaginary world.
The well chosen Renaissance music helps create the magical mood of the play. This is fitting because this capricious, appealing production casts quite a spell.
The cast's energies have been well harnessed with some very impressive performances throughout. What impressed most was the collaborative nature of the community ensemble, their genuine support of each other and their commitment and passion to the work of creating enjoyable theater.
I saw a bit of the lunatic, the lover and the poet in the acting performances.
The Greenwood production captures Shakespeare's story of love: how love drifts into chaos, becomes misaligned with nature and how all matters of love eventually fall into place as they should in accordance with the balance of the universe.
The director and cast have been bold to tackle the Elizabethan language which is delivered with ease and clarity.
Congratulations to Park, the actors, the technical team, and all who have helped put this "Dream" together.
As the play's famous line goes, "What fools these mortals be."
How foolish it would be to pass on this blockbuster comedy.
There are 2 and 8 pm shows today (Saturday, April 26). Other shows are 8 pm May 2 and 3 and 2 pm May 3 and 4.
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Call GCT at (864) 229-5704 or email tgct@greenwood.net to make reservations.
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