Now in its
10th year, the
Delaware Shakespeare Festival has brought some of William Shakespeare's most
beloved plays to hundreds of picnicking audience members. Yes, the play is
performed outside and audience members are encouraged to bring blankets and
chairs, as well as food and drinks (including wine). The festival premiered in
2003 at Archmere Academy. In 2006, the group moved to the majestic grounds of
the Rockwood Mansion, a perfect setting for this year's production of A
Midsummer Night's Dream.
Director
David Stradley masterfully emphasizes the plays major theme - love and the many
aspects of the mysterious feeling/emotion - especially with the brilliant
sliver set featuring large X's and O's sculptures by Scenic Designer
Christopher Haig. The performers cascade on and off the stage and at times
disappear into the wooded area behind it or leap into the audience to make an
exit.
The
whimsical play is about two young human couples (Jamal Douglas &
Sarah Van Auken and Sean Bradley & Jennifer Starr Foley) falling in and out
of love, with a little help from the magic of a few fairies, including the
fairy king Oberon (Matt Tallman) who is dueling with the fairy queen Titania
(Caroline Crocker) for supremacy.
Shakespeare
explores how love makes a fool out of everyone. We watch the two couples
perform foolish acts of love and disdain toward their betrothed. In addition,
the king's assistant Puck (Griffin Stanton-Almeisen) transforms an actor
Bottom (Adam Altman) from a bumbling touring troupe into a donkey and
casts a spell over the queen, causing her to fall madly in love with him.
Proving that sometimes we go from acting like a fool to becoming an ass
when we fall in love.
The skillful
performers, the beautiful setting, the eloquent text, the flowing choreography
by the First State Ballet Theatre’s Alex Bucker, and the romantic score written
by David Amado (Music Director of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra) make A
Midsummer Night's Dream a splendid production for all to experience. It was
wonderful to see parents introducing their young children to the bard's work,
as well as older couples who were more familiar with the play sharing a bottle
of wine and enjoying a most gorgeous evening.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs
through July 28. For information and tickets, visit www.delshakes.org or email info@delshakes.org.
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