A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
AUGUST 2008

DIRECTOR and actor Harry Meacher returns to Pentameters once again to stage one of the much-loved Shakespearean ­comedies.
Following the success of his production of The Tempest in June, this adaptation is another faultless parade of the loss of identity, packed with a bagful of mayhem.
On a humid, stuffy evening in the Hampstead theatre, a wonderfully exuberant cast brought the famous love triangle to life.
Set deep in the woods under the moonlight, three plots interlock, through the celebration of the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens and the Amazonian queen ­Hippolyta. Four young Athenian lovers suffer under a spell while a group of amateur actors attempt to put a play together.
“The course of true love did never run smooth” and indeed it never does in this ­comedy of errors.
Blunder after ­blunder leaves unhappy couples confused and separated, ­creating an air of disorder across the woodland scene, set in the realm of Fairyland.
The magic never leaves the set as mishap and confusion go hand in hand. Judi Bowker’s Titania shimmers underneath the flurry and disruption; as she becomes tangled in the action her petite fluttering is enchanting to watch.
Georgia Cardy’s Puck is a delight as the magical “merry ­wanderer of the night”, scurrying across the stage as the drama unfolds.
Despite the intense heat, this piece of ­classic escapism was thoroughly enjoyed by both adults and children alike. One thing is certain, the course of this production does run smooth.
Until August 23
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