Vibrancy Theater will perform Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Thursday to Oct. 24.
Many people find Shakespeare difficult to read and understand, but this cast and crew effectively portray the characters. The cast clearly expresses humor, disdain, love and other emotions corresponding with the writings of Shakespeare’s classic play. Even if you can only pick out a few words from Shakespeare, this show is still very understandable.
With each character, it was easy to understand motives and chemistry. The love interests were obvious in their displays and subjects of their affection. There’s no wondering who is supposed to be with whom.
As for humor, laughter was very present in the theater. Every actor and character had a moment where laughter was needed, and their comedic skills were executed well. The comedic timing of each actor made the show much more enjoyable to watch. Comedic relief characters made most of the jokes or performed the most physical comedy, but the love interests did a fantastic job of being funny, even in serious moments.
This production perfectly balances the serious moments with humor. There was never a moment when the play wasn’t funny or enjoyable.
As for the characters themselves, it is hard to say who stuck out the most. Each actor did a great job portraying the hilariously compact story, making each character enthralling.
For people who haven’t been introduced to Shakespeare aside from reading a play or two in high school, this is a wonderful production to start visiting his works. Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedic play set before the wedding between Theseus (Phil Hoelscher), the Duke of Athens, and Hippolyta (Rebecca Larson). We meet four young Athenian lovers who are thrust into conflict.
Lysander (James Walkowski) and Hermia (Paige Marshall), who both plan to attend the wedding, run into the forest as Hermia’s father wishes her to marry Demetrius (Kyle Rodgers). Helena (Annaka Guerrero), jealous of Hermia’s beauty and Demetrius’ love for Hermia, follows Demetrius into the forest as he follows Lysander and Hermia.
In the forest, the king and queen of the fairies fight, leading to a conflict involving a magic flower that casts a sleeping spell. Upon waking, the victim of the spell will fall in love with whomever they see first The mischievous fairy Puck (Talitha Thomas) works with the fairy king, King Oberon, also played by Phil Hoelscher, in a plot to trick the queen. At the same time, King Oberon’s plans to use the four lovers goes awry.
Meanwhile, in the forest, an amateur theater troupe works on a play to perform at the wedding. Nick Bottom (Nick Swope), one of the members, gets roped into the trick on the queen by King Oberon and Puck in a hilarious turn of events.
Walkowski plays Lysander in such a hilarious and romantic way it exudes into his chemistry with Marshall, whose graceful portrayal of Hermia was just as captivating.
Helena is portrayed with such a range of emotional depth by Guerrero whose version of the character is so complex, it makes the viewer want to root for her. Guerrero clearly portrays Helena as insecure, in love and envious of Hermia. By the end, the humorous scenes of all four characters were magnificently executed.
For supporting roles, there were some actors whose scenes you would have to see for yourself to experience the full hilarity and entertainment their performance captures.
The visual aspects of the show were creative, especially in the costume design. Expecting some Shakespearean era inspiration, the costume team actually uses differing eras in fashion to classify groups in the show.
Athenians wore film noir-inspired 1940s ensembles, and the fairies from the magically chaotic forest wore 1980s fantasy-inspired outfits. The comedic troupe in the story wore jumpsuits and tools as they built a story to perform at Theseus' wedding.
As for the set, it was both minimal and elegant. It was a unit set, which is a single stage setting used throughout the play. There is no changing of locations with each scene.
When we are in Athens for the wedding, it is dim and simple. When we are in the forest, it is more magical and colorful with each drop moving in and out of the scene.
It leads the characters to interact with the audience, while also taking viewers into a chaotic new world.
The production is hilarious, lovable and joyful. Tickets are $5 for Ohio University students, $7 for non-OU students and $10 for general admission. They can be purchased for showings Oct. 16-24 at E.E. Baker Theater in Kantner Hall.
