Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
It is one thing to remember how funny a show an be, it is
another to bear witness to a production that goes one better and every
enunciation, tumble and action is comic perfection. In this production of
Shakespeare’s farcical fairy tale every comic nuance possible is put to work,
creating a hilarious, adventurous and magical performance. Theatre Mwldan and
Mappa Mundi have revisited a partnership with Torch Theatre for this
production, an enterprise that has again worked wonders.
Transported from ancient wooded Athens to 1940’s Britain,
this Midsummer Night’s Dream is a new
commentary on changing times where love wins out over stubborn class divides as
Lysander –transformed into an American – fights for Hermia with the now
straight laced, Englishman Demetrius. Air raid sirens sound and silent films
play, setting the scene before the cast launch into the text – dressed as the
soldiers, land girls, wardens and the glamorous upper class.
The plebeians of St
Athans Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (SAADOS) are the perfect comic bumbling
relief to Oberon and Titania’s dark, sinister fairyland where unrequited love
and false chivalry abound as the human’s fall victim to Puck’s shambolic meddling.
Their inexplicable rendition of Pyramus and Thisbe making the perfect comic
mockery of amateur theatre Liam Tobin’s Bottom and James Peake’s Flute stumble
over lines, over act the scenes and produce ridiculous prop’s – Llinos Mae’s
Snout suffers as the SAADOs rendition of the ill-fated wall. Mathew Bulgo’s plays
Quince, forever attempting to improve his amateur actors and forever failing –
only to give up in complete irritation.
With such a sizable but incredible talented ensemble cast it
is difficult to pick the shining star: they all shone. Yet Joanna Simpkins was
truly impressive as Helena: heartbroken and desperate her pursuit of Demetrius plays
out with such physicality the audience is at once with her in sympathy and
laughing at the hilarity if it and it starts again as the roles reverse and she is pursued by both Demetrius and
Lysander after Puck’s meddling. Francois Pandolfo as Puck is simultaneously menacing
and enticing – flitting about the stage he is the willing villain of Oberon’s
jealous plan and his appearance amongst the audience adds to the dreamlike
quality of the show, becoming the dream’s storyteller.
A remarkably simple set works well with the lighting, enhancing
the dark, dreamy world. Multi-media use at the beginning and end: delivering
Puck’s final lines is eerie and perfectly placed to close down the dream and
let the dreaming audience awaken.
A Midsummer Nights Dream is on tour until 8th December.
Info: www.mappa-mundi.org.uk
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