Theatre Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Axbridge Town Hall.
On a freezing November night in Axbridge we were taken to the heat of a Somerset Rock Festival where Shakespeare’s comedy was relocated from the olive groves of sweltering Athens to somewhere close to the Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury. Axbridge Community Theatre’s (ACT) production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a triumph for the trio of directors behind the show of Tony Leach, Katie Underhay and Marieke Roebuck who had re-imagined the Elizabethan drama by taking it into the world of 21st century rock stars, outdoor concerts and a drug induced rock and roll lifestyle.
A large cast gave the drama depth and a multitude of narratives, with at its core the marriage of Theseus (Nigel Newton) and Hippolyta (Alicia Hallatt) which is slightly overshadowed by the warring quartet of lovers namely Hermia (Katie Underhay), Lysander (Ollie Painter), Helena (Marieke Roebuck) and Demetrius (Jude Wilson). These four were equally matched in stage presence and comedy by the unruly Mechanicals led by Sonia Cherry as Quince and dominated by Bottom played by Tony Wilson.
Written in 1595 some 429 years ago by William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream has remained one the best known and popular comedies of all time due to its mix of Worcestershire folklore, Ancient Greek characters, Elizabethan ethics, high comedy and above all the fickle frailties of human nature. Staged in three acts and set in an open stage lined by portaloos on one side and the festival’s backstage entrance on the other – designed by Tony Leach and Marieke Roebuck and put together by a team led by David Parkin – the production gave the cast plenty of room for the large set pieces. With music a vital ingredient of the play just as it was in the 16th century the cast included Oberon’s (Phil Saunders) band members of John Dunstone (guitar) and Bill Underhay (drums), with music composed and arranged by Stella Moore, Tony Leach, Tony Kay and Peter Chapman giving a Glastonbury vibe.
An exceptional cast with some exceptional performances. Namely the quartet of lovers whose lives were meddled with via a hallucinatory drug infused by a brilliant punk-rockesque Puck played by Chris Jarman whose devious and mischievous facial expressions were something that will live with me for a while. Take a bow the on-fire Ollie Painter, goth Katie Underhay, lace short wearing Marieke Roebuck and the wonderfully animated Jude Wilson. Their sparring, the famous girl on girl fight and Lysander and Demetrius coming to blows was just what was needed to cheer the near packed out town hall.
The Fairies who looked like Taylor Swift groupies adorned the sparkling and effervescent Titania played with huge energy and comic timing by Sue Hughes and featured Beth Sharples (Cobweb), Paul Davies (Mustard Seed), Alicia Hallatt as Moth and Lesley Williams as Peaseblossom. One of the highlights of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the love-in between Bottom and Titania – and this production didn’t disappoint with Tony Wilson and Sue Hughes camping it up in a scene of high comedy.
The naturally gifted actor Sonia Chery had her work cut out keeping the Health and Safety Hi-vis adorned Mechanicals in order: Flute (Ryan Frewin), Snug (Dan Ward), Snout (Janet Gwinn) and Starveling (Christine Cuthbert) all played their part – and their group warm up was a piece of inspired direction. ACT regular Nigel Newton and elfin like Alicia Hallatt created the roles of soon to be wed Theseus and Hippolyta with aplomb as did David Parkin as a suitably stern Egeus while a lively Katie Weir as Philostrate completed the cast.
It was a highly imaginative and inventive piece of theatre, keeping all of the comedy and magic of Shakespeare’s original play by repurposing 21st century props, musical instruments and even the portaloos to comic effect. And yet, as I followed the text, most of Shakespeare’s beautiful prose, poetry and speeches were retained – and were clearly enunciated by a cast who had the confidence of the directors.
Harry Mottram
The plays runs from Wednesday 20th November to Saturday 23rd November 2024. Tickets at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/axbridge/axbridge-town-hall/a-midsummer-nights-dream/e-eqmjaz
The next production is Broken Glass by Arthur Miller and will be staged in Axbridge Town Hall from 26-29 March 2025 and in the following week at The Alma Tavern Theatre in Bristol.
More details at https://sites.google.com/site/axcomtheatre/
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