The 2009 Bay Area Shakespeare season has begun. Not in a park, or in a theater, but in the basement of a college pizza parlor. On the first floor there was a basketball game on TV, a pool table, a picture of Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason in “The Hustler” on the wall, and people pouring pitchers of beer. Walk down the narrow stairs and there it was: Impact Theatre’s awesome new production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Director Melissa Hillman set this “Dream” in a 1980’s nightclub underworld, with all the appropriate music, clothes and behavior. When the Goth Faeries were on stage it was like watching an early MTV video, back when a whole story was told in one short song with a lot of quick edits and dazzling, cinematic movement. Titania’s dialogue was trimmed, but the scenes between her and Bottom, who was played by another woman, were hilarious and hot. The two excellent actresses got right to the essence of what was happening.
In keeping with the eighties theme, the scenes with the Athenian royalty and the rude mechanicals were done in the style of an SCTV sketch. A good choice – I always thought that show was funnier than “Saturday Night Live.” The cast of SCTV were good actors, and mixed in serious literary and artistic references with their pop-culture satire and slapstick humor.
Impact’s “Midsummer” really sparkled when the new wave Oberon and punk Puck began to mess around with the two pairs of young lovers. The lovers actually had distinct personalities; as written, they’re almost interchangeable. This time I could actually tell the difference between Demetrius and Lysander and Helena and Hermia. Not only that the characters, as performed, had real depth and motivation.
The big scene where they all fight while Oberon and Puck watch was brilliantly staged. They delivered their dialogue sharp and staccato, like they were in a 1930’s screwball comedy movie. And the fight choreography was equally fast and funny. The audience loved it. I’ve seen this play many times and I, personally, don’t remember laughing as much as I did at this performance.
I was around back in the eighties, and was probably about the same age then as many of the cast members are now. So, this “Midsummer” had a certain dream-like quality for me. It’s amazing how a play that was written 400 years ago can, it seems, have so much to say about other times and places. I don’t want to over-analyze it, but I’ll likely be going back to check it out again. If nothing else, I’m sure it will be another entertaining evening.
Pax, Vox
http://www.impacttheatre.com/
