A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Fairfield Amphitheatre is a magnificent choice to locate this charming and delightful play.

The approach taken by GJ  Productions is minimalist and traditional. Characters are predominantly in modern day dress and the free-flowing costuming for the characters who inhabit the forest unequivocally suggest ethereal creatures and fairies.

The talented vocalist and guitarist Harrison Osborne provided some excellent pre-show entertainment. His soothing, melodic music exquisitely set the mood for the play.

While the performance was somewhat uneven, there were some highlights and the two young couples came to the forefront in the latter stages of the play. The encounters between Hermia (Michaela Bedel), Helena (Grace Maddern), Lysander (Brendan Faulks) and Demetrius (Callum Harrington) in the forest were nicely executed. The rivalry between the two women was energetic and fully exploited the luxury of space offered by the venue.

Puck (Jacqui Essing) was sly and mischievous but could have been more amused or bewildered by the chaos she created. The Athenian tradesman provided some very amusing antics throughout the play and Bottom (Dom Westcott) was outstanding in his vibrant rendition of this crucial character. The power dynamics in this play, and the way they are mirrored in the two realms, seems to have been overlooked in the directorial vision. Some more consideration to the way regal characters assert their strength and authority could benefit the performance.

Patricia Di Risio