Comic dreams in the Open Air

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Open Air Theatre

Sam Jones

I AM almost embarrassed to admit how long I have been coming to the Open Air Theatre and how many productions of this play I have seen performed there.
I was a schoolgirl the first time I saw an impressively classical, cloven-hoofed puck mount a flat top tree trunk in the whispering green leaves and thought no setting could be more perfect. This production is among the best I have seen.
The story is one of farcical confusion – a fairy king fancying a night of mischief magically blinds his queen and a pair of young lovers with passionate desire for the first person they see on waking from sleep.
As a result, two suitors begin to pursue one girl, a second girl is rejected while the fairy king’s wife falls in love with an ass.
In this production the fairies, ingeniously, work the humans almost like puppets – a cleverly choreographed variation on the midsummer script.
It makes for a very funny and gripping story. Summer Strallen, last seen highkicking in Guys ’n’ Dolls, is a surprise, being charming, comic and athletic and showing real stamina in her slapstick.
As the object of both suitors’ hearts, she plays the bewildered terrified Helena with innocent, indignant fury.
Sirine Saba pushes a gloriously powerful voice across the trees and aeroplanes, alongside her fairy king (Steven Pacey) who is a proud and sexy Oberon.
The woodland folk are mostly bald headed, punkish looking sprites. Puck (Gerard Carey) is so reminiscent of The Prodigy’s Keith Flint you can almost bang your head with him to an imagined Firestarter.
Dressed in a mixture of Edwardian underwear and short pants and braces they are an odd looking bunch, but surprisingly successful here.
The half-witted mummers who open and close the play have as their star turn John Hodgkinson. He is about seven feet tall and is a camp Bottom. His co-players are an eccentric delight and nicely balance Hodgkinson’s often overwhelming presence.
Director Ian Talbot has created a dynamic, sparkling production full of laughs.

Until August 30
08700 601 811