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POSTED: 01 DECEMBER 2009

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare

Arts Radar & B Sharp | Belvoir Street Theatre, Surry Hills, Sydney | Until 20 December

Midsummer’s come a bit early to Belvoir Street. What’s more, it’s brought with it all the desire, sweatiness and divine torture of summer love, played out on a scrawny bit of Astroturf.

Eamon Flack directs a splendid young cast in an uproarious, often ridiculous interpretation of this Shakespearean rom-com. Flack surmises that A Midsummer Night’s Dream must be on every few months somewhere in Sydney. Extrapolated worldwide, I’d suspect Midsummer is playing at just about every moment of the day, somewhere.

Having said that, and having seen more than a few productions, this particular version is a complete, unique delight.

I was hooked from the moment Theseus (Tim Walter) entered, took up his Casio keyboard, and serenaded Hippolyta (Katherine Cullen) with Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s The Power Of Love. What bravery (or madness) is drawn upon in deciding that Cyndi Lauper, the KanTong stir-fry sauce ad, and Leonard Cohen will also feature?

Any doubts that such a production can be successfully performed in Downstairs’ small area were quickly lost. The meagre few square metres of stage were so cleverly and economically used that I wonder why Midsummer has needed all that damn space elsewhere.

Flack and the cast reveal not only their great affection for this whimsical piece, but also deep understanding. That the play is not always exactly as Shakespeare wrote it does not affect its essence. In fact, the clever interjections, judicious pauses and playfulness in delivery of the well-known lines enhance the experience.

Midsummer offers many opportunities for mayhem and the cast joyfully employ the occasional bit of slapstick, costume and prop jokes, and what can only be described as goofy humour. At times this teeters on going over the top, but is wisely pulled back at the last moment.

Charlie Garber (Puck/Bottom) is a standout, alternating beautifully deadpan delivery and snappish pomposity. Gareth Davies’ wide-eyed Demetrius is the epitome of a fool in love (or perhaps just a fool!), and Kit Brookman adds an extra bit of absurdity. That a hairy man in a gingham frock somehow becomes totally believable as the delicate Hermia is a credit to his skill as a performer!

Celebrate the beginning of the silly season and treat yourself, someone you love, or someone you think you might love, to this crazy Dream.

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