Theatre Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream at Tobacco Factory

Thursday 18th February 2010

This is a Crackerjack review of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.

Crackerjack rating: 8 / 10.

Ten years ago Andrew Hilton set out on what looked to be a forlorn hope of creating a company dedicated to presenting Shakespeare's plays in what was then just the shell of a disused tobacco factory.

Although there have been some bumpy moments during those 10 years in the main it has been, as far as the standard of production is concerned, a success story all the way.

This the first of the Bard's works to been revisited will certainly not diminish the high regard that the company are now held in, not just in this country but internationally.

The emphasise is slightly altered from the standard interpretation but as is usual under Andrew Hilton's direction every word of the script is treated with due respect. 

Comedy was high on the agenda with the four young lovers,Ffion Jolly-Hermia, Rebecca Pownall-Helena, Jack Hardwick-Lysander, and Benjamin Askew-Demetrius at times challenging the rough Athenian tradesmen in the laughter stakes.

That group which is usually completely dominated by the character of Nick Bottom this time was more of a team effort. This did not prevent Chris Donnelly as Bottom from showing  just how skilful a player of comedy he is. In their play,Pyramus and Thisbe, presented for the Duke he and the other amateur actors were upstaged by some outstanding comic business from Felix Hayes in his portrayal of 'The Wall'. As a group they came into their own when doubling up as Titania's outrageous Fairy's.

On the opposite side of the coin Christopher Staines' less physical than usual Puck showed us quite a bit of the darker side of this mischievous fellow. This fitted neatly in with Amy Rockson and Jay Villiers controlled portraits of Titania and Oberon.

Excellent use was made of Harriet de Winton's minimalist set and what at first glance looked to be a peculiar mixture of costumes served the characters extremely well.

Gerry Parker
 

This is a Crackerjack review of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Do you agree? Rate and review this event.