A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Smock Alley – Review by Helen O’Leary

Until April 11th.

PurpleCoat Productions interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a thoroughly modern production. The play is one of Shakespeare’s better-known comedies, with elements of farce, fantasy all centred on a chaotic love story. While remaining true to the original text, something fun and novel enters every scene.

The story goes that while Lysander and Hermia are blissfully in love, Hermia’s disapproving father wishes her to marry a young man called Demetrius. The handsome Demetrius would do so in a heartbeat only Hermia does not love him.

Then there is Helena who has the misfortune to be hopelessly in love with Demetrius. Toss in some magic love potion courtesy of the forest fairies, sit back and enjoy the ensuing chaos between the four young lovers. As if this wasn’t enough there is a daft play within the play, and a fairy queen who falls in love with an ass. Shakespeare was certainly cutting loose in fantasy world when he penned this work.

Two elements that distinguish the PurpleCoat company are the use of their own regional accents when speaking their Shakespearean lines and simple but imaginative sets. Both are on show in this production. The city of Athens where the wedding of a nobleman is being planned is transformed into the busy office of an events planner, while the traditional forest where the main action takes place is a night-club. I was initially nostalgic for the magical, mystical forest setting, especially as the script makes frequent references to physical elements of the woods. However the night club has its own merits (dance music, party foam, scantily clad men wrestling) and this production is delivering on a promise of something different.

Other elements of the play given a twist are the portrayal of the fairy Oberon and his able assistant Puck as superheroes, complete with swishing cloaks and like any good superhero the power of invisibility. This is a very spirited production by a young cast. They pour buckets of energy into their performances and certainly play up the physical and the farcical. And if we need any more proof of their energy this very same cast put Hamlet on stage the following night. Respect!

Hamlet / A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Smock Alley – Until April 11th.