Hartford Stage, Hartford, CT
through October 8, 2017
by Mary Fernandez-Sierra
The Bard is alive and well at Hartford Stage’s magical and
melodious production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Director Darko Tresnjak has created an uncommonly polished
and lovely version of one of Shakespeare’s most familiar comedies, with
brilliant British touches everywhere. From the typically English elegant
costumes (including Hippolyta in jodhpurs) to the stately gatehouse and
grounds, to the delicate birdsong and strains of Mozart and Haydn playing
softly in the background, the fine hand of a master director can be seen.
For those new to the story, it intertwines several different
plots: that of four love-struck teenagers, a royal wedding, six bumbling
actors, and a feud between a fairy king and his lady.
All the performances are exceptional, and truly do justice
to the characters, story and poetry of this great classic. Most outstanding are
Fedna Laure Jacquet as the passionate Helena, John Lavelle as the appallingly
conceited Bottom, and Scarlett Strallen as the honey-voiced fairy queen
Titania.
It is great fun to watch the doubling of the actors in
several roles (Puck is also Philostrate, Duke Theseus’ manservant, and Theseus
also plays Oberon, for example.) Having the Mechanicals as servants in the
Duke’s retinue instead of low-life locals is also a clever innovation.
As always, the scenery, sound, costumes, and lighting at
Hartford Stage nearly steal the show. Designer Alexander Dodge’s gatehouse is
magnificent, providing multiple levels for the actors to peer out of archways
and windows, and the hedges around the perimeter of the grounds are used to
incredible effect as platforms and hiding places for fairies and lovers.
Stunning and sensuous soft colors permeate the stage,
whether at the Duke’s estate or in the wild kingdom of the fairies, thanks to
lighting designer York Kennedy; Sound Design from Broken Chord complements the
majestic feel of the production, and the costumes by Joshua Pearson match the
characters to perfection, as well as being lovely to look at.
For a refreshing evening of fine theatre, one can’t do
better than take in Hartford Stage’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
