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'A Midsummer Night's Dream" at WSU's Hilberry Theatre makes for a perfect evening
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What’s not to love about A Midsummer Night’s Dream? It’s the perfect play – with broad comedy, romance, music, zany sub-plots, wonderful costumes and the whole fantastic fairy kingdom to romp around in.
The Hilberry’s production is a joy to watch. As a showcase for the entire company, it argues well for the power of repertory theatre, where the ensemble effort (with actors who know and rely on the abilities of their peers) produces such delightful results.
Of course, if you’re a director and you’ve done the show a few times already, the challenge becomes one of making this specific production stand out. Where does one turn for inspiration?
Dr. Joe Calarco, Professor of Theatre at WSU and the show's director, focused on the relationships at the core of the story. It's four sets of would-be lovers face considerable challenges – but eventually reveal the interconnectedness of life in all its layers – nature, the mortal world, and the supernatural.
The play opens with mythological royals Theseus and Hippolyta discussing how their countries’ warring has at length resolved in their marriage celebration. This happy talk is quickly interrupted by an angry father demanding that his daughter be forced to marry the young man of his choice (not hers) – or face the full force of the law – either death or the convent. Theseus sides with the father and Hippolyta clearly does not.
This cooling of royal relationships finds its parallel in the fairy world, where Oberon and Titania have parted ways – causing all manner of mayhem in the natural order of things. (Floods, storms, contagious fogs, rotting crops, etc.)
From this inauspicious beginning, the story unfolds and the power of love, with considerable interference by the fairy folk, transfigures all. By the play’s end, Theseus invites all the young lovers to join in the nuptials – winning back the goodwill of Hippolyta in the bargain – and the relationship between Oberon and Titania (along with the natural order) is happily restored.
Taking textual and textural inspiration from Celtic sources (e.g., the early writings of William Butler Yeats) and the art of the Pre-Raphaelites, the scenic design shimmers with dappled light and saturated, gem-like colors. Calarco and scenic designer Melinda Pacha (on loan from UDM) have create a timeless mood that has the dreamy look and feel of a painting by John William Waterhouse.
Don’t fight the urge … just crawl inside this production of Midsummer Night's Dream and enjoy the ride.
“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” William Butler Yeats
Cast
Brian P. Sage (Theseus); Lorelei Sturm (Hippolyta/Peaseblossom); Safiya Johnson (Mistress Philostrata); Dave Toomey (Egeus/Oberon); Carollette Phillips (Hermia); Peter C. Prouty (Demetrius); Rob Pantano (Lysander); Samantha Rosentrater (Helena); Erman Jones (Quince); Alan Ball* (Bottom); Jordan Whalen (Flute); Andrew Papa (Snug); Christopher R. Ellis (Starveling); Jason Cabral (Snout); Justin Vanden Heuvel (Puck); Sara Hymes (1st Fairy/Mustardseed); Christina Flynn (Titania); Katie Lietz Flannery (Cobweb) and Annabelle Young (Moth).
*Appears by special permission of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Production
Directed by Joe Calarco. Scenic Design by Melinda Pacha. Costume Design by Christa Koerner. Choreography by Nira Pullin. Technical Direction by Jeffrey Strange. Sound Design by Jonathan Weaver. Lighting Design Jason Pratt. Publicist Kelly O’Connor. Stage Management, Michael Peters.
Ticket Information
For ticket information, please call (313) 577-2972 or visit the Wayne State University Box Office at 4743 Cass Avenue on the corner of Cass Avenue and Hancock. Performance information and tickets may also be obtained by visiting the Theatre's website.
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