by Mick Brian
images by Jim McCauley
“Lord, what fools these mortals be”, says the mischievous sprite, Puck, to his master the fairy king Oberon in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Whilst in the text, he is addressing the four Athenian lovers and their irrational behaviour and criss-crossed love pairings – albeit created by himself an Oberon with fairy magic, this quote may also wonderfully encapsulate the fun-filled performance of Shakespeare’s comedy by Bath Drama at the Rondo Theatre next week.
Directorship by James Dennis, assisted by Lauren Davis, has playfully adapted the court of Athens and its surroundings to be a factory warehouse in England in the 1980s, with a wonderful ‘80s soundtrack to accompany and underline the action, with the court being the managing directors of the Athenian and Amazonian factories as they complete their merger.
The Mechanicals are portrayed as factory workers, foreman and all, while the lovers are the various middle class youngsters, intent onloving and hating each other in turn.
Meanwhile the fairies and woodland sprites are the homeless and destitute in the grim streets of the industrial park where the factory sits.
Soundtracks are often overlooked in reviews so I will begin with outlining the quite excellent and at times amusing soundtrack James has pulled together. This is no simple mish mash of ‘80s hits though – there is poignancy and comedy in the selections too, so keep an ear out for the incidental musical teases throughout the show. From Ultravox, Eurythmics and Foreigner, to Madness and Black Lace the offerings will bring a poignant smile to children of the 80s and maybe those of earlier decades (*cough*).
James has a further twist in character selection, gender swapping Lysander and Helena embracing the ‘80s freedoms of open same sex relationships setting aside historical stigma, a bold yet historically pertinent decision.
But Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show, but wonder on, till truth be plain to see… whilst there is much sleeping to be found in this play (the various lovers spend an inordinate amount of time kipping under WS’ penmanship of course) there is nothing “woke” about the play (at which let no man wonder) if that is something that concerns the less open minded amongst us… it’s is the same old wonderful silliness that Shakespeare wrote four hundred years ago, and Bath Drama deliver that perfect silliness in spades.
The Mechanicals are just the sweetest bunch of adults-going-on-twelve-years-olds you could ever want to meet… childish in outlook, maximising their fun from their dreary factory work – and where Imogen Notshaw as Bottom encapsulates the weaver’s excitement, confidence and self-centredness wonderfully. Ian Diddams plays the exasperated but father like Quince, Graham Cain the nervous and concerned yet LOUD Snug the Joiner (along with Mustardseed), Lucy Perry the excitable Snout and Jack Sandbach the timid and unsure Flute and the stunningly beautiful Thisby!
Back in the Court and the woodland a.k.a. the grim outside, Andy Cook plays the pompous Egeus and Cobweb, Sophie Turner the strong-willed Hermia, Jem Shea the wayward lover Demetrius, Amber Gibson the trouble making Puck plus company secretary Philostrate.
Gender flips as mentioned above sees Diluki O’Beirne play Theseus and Oberon, Toby Skelton as Hippolyta and Titania with Lauren Arena-McCann as Lysander, and Gully Trim a delightfully demure Helena. And here, we hope, they have a play fitted.
This is Shakespeare as wrote – with extra gags, daftness, music and dancing, walls, dogs, asses and lots and lots of fairy magic to boot. Bath Drama have embraced Shakespeare’s comedy and have delivered it in style, with great comedy, a few poignant moments and a lot more foolishness on top.
The set is a simple one – as befits Shakespearean productions the stage is little more than a black box with brick wall facades and some on stage wings but is well presented ( less that appears to be dam ing with faint praise!) by Denis Phelan. Tech is as ever superbly delivered by Alex Latham and the entire show seamlessly tied together by the Stage Mangement Team of Connor Palmer and Ellen Read with Scarlett Hayler-King fitting everybody out beautifully as costumer. Laurie Parnell as musical maestro created the musical flow of the show.
You can catch this wonderful production at the Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, bath from April 29th to May 2nd, evenings at 7.30pm and tickets are available at https://rondotheatre.co.uk/a-midsummer-nights-dream
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