A Midsummer Night's Dream
Globe Theatre Touring Company, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
This magical comedy translates us all into a fantasy forest world where fairies rule and every love problem is resolved with humour and kindness.
Bottom's new life as an ass, beloved by a besotted fairy queen, contrasts with the serious threat to Hermia's health and safety. Marry the man Daddy's chosen, or die. That's our cue to sit back and enjoy the show, where all amends shall be restored.
Eight actors ingeniously discharge all the parts. Their graceful athletics and the deft choreography of each role change mesmerise the audience. They let us willingly suspend our disbelief that two courting couples, six hard-handed mechanicals and a bunch of fairies really do meet up, fall in love and sleep in the woods, all for our delight.
Bethan Walker's feisty Puck, a-glitter in cabaret-style hot pants, seduces our imaginations as she distributes the love juice a bit too freely.
Bottom dreams of stardom, but the donkey brays from his deck chair ground him in comic reality. William Mannering's brilliant portrayal of this hempen homespun sets the pace for this terrific production, directed by Raz Shaw. Louise Ford, Mark Quartley, Leon Williams and Hara Yannas play the runaways who both escape and pursue imaginary love. Their witty routines and involvement of audience members are to be treasured. Teddy bears wearing look-alike outfits gently suggest that these four have some growing up to do before the necessarily happy ending.
As Theseus said of Quince's crew, the play needs no excuse. This pacy version of Shakespeare's classic comedy positively scintillates with energy and should on no account be missed.
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Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 09 February 2012
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