‘A Little Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Review
December 13, 2012
Ryan Feinberg, print edtior-in-chief
On a cultural whim sparked by an extra-credit opportunity for my 12th grade AP Literature class, I took a six-mile trip to the Lillian Theatre to view “A Little Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a contemporary rock-and-roll adaptation of Shakespeare’s 16th century work.
The production embodies a love quadrangle presented through rock ballads and passionate dialogue. The remodeling of the love story contained sparks of modern references, which make the old tale enjoyable.
First of all, the Lillian Theatre is wonderful. Cozy and ‘echoey,’ the theater allows the performance to be personal: the characters’ steps and breaths can be heard clearly by all viewers alike. The intimacy was unexpected and appreciated.
As for the show, it was different. The sui generis musical take on the play was especially novel considering it has no logical connection to the play, but it worked. It worked perfectly. The stage was splashed with neons and excitement, while the dialogue was entwined with romance and sexual innuendos.
Particularly interesting was the the stage crew’s role in the play. While in the beginning it appears that the stage crew is precisely that, the latter half of the production reveals quite the opposite, with one crew member breaking into a comedic solo piece that spread laughter instantly.
Running less than two hours – with no intermission – and costing a minor fee of $10, “A Little Midsummer Night’s Dream” is sure to leave any viewer with a fluorescent impression of the production, a newfound appreciation of Shakespearean literature and, if all goes well, a smile.
The production embodies a love quadrangle presented through rock ballads and passionate dialogue. The remodeling of the love story contained sparks of modern references, which make the old tale enjoyable.
First of all, the Lillian Theatre is wonderful. Cozy and ‘echoey,’ the theater allows the performance to be personal: the characters’ steps and breaths can be heard clearly by all viewers alike. The intimacy was unexpected and appreciated.
As for the show, it was different. The sui generis musical take on the play was especially novel considering it has no logical connection to the play, but it worked. It worked perfectly. The stage was splashed with neons and excitement, while the dialogue was entwined with romance and sexual innuendos.
Particularly interesting was the the stage crew’s role in the play. While in the beginning it appears that the stage crew is precisely that, the latter half of the production reveals quite the opposite, with one crew member breaking into a comedic solo piece that spread laughter instantly.
Running less than two hours – with no intermission – and costing a minor fee of $10, “A Little Midsummer Night’s Dream” is sure to leave any viewer with a fluorescent impression of the production, a newfound appreciation of Shakespearean literature and, if all goes well, a smile.
