REVIEW: 'Midsummer's' At The Rep Bewitching And Loveable
"A Midsummer's Night's Dream" at The Rep is truly a transporting production. Done with great love, care, energy, humor and beauty, this very determined show quickly engages the audience on a level of colorful imagination and whimsy that is irresistible.
Photo courtesy of The Rep
The complicated storyline of about love, relationships, romance, family and fairies begins with a royal dilemma as a Athenian nobleman comes before the Duke of Athens complaining that his daughter does not want to marry the man he has picked for her, and instead wants to marry another for of all reasons, love.
The star-crossed lovers then decide to hurry off into the woods and escape to somewhere where they can get married. However, in the forest there are a fairy queen, her husband and his loyal servant Puck. They posses ample levels of wizardry and use their powers to play romantic mischief on all manner of characters who are constantly running in and out of the audience throughout the two act romp.
Photo courtesy of The Rep
The production is uniformly funny with bright, hilarious moments provided by a small company of inept actors who are rehearsing a show for the duke of Athens. They are looking forward to the payday.
Photo courtesy of The Rep
Before seeing The Rep's "A Midsummer's Bight's Dream" I suggest you read the work, or at least a synopsis. It is a somewhat complicated storyline that will be easier to decipher if you do.
Photo courtesy of The Rep
The set design and lighting of this alluring show are thoroughly enchanting. In the last scene, the character of Puck implores the audience in his epilogue to not be put off by the play's unbridled flights of fancy. ""Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend."
Not a problem, Puck.
