While the temperatures drop and the rain starts, it’s really a perfect moment for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and the wild slapstick and masterful mugging of the AVPA production at the Kirk Douglas Theater is the laugh you have been looking for.
Shakespeare’s comedy about lovers lost in the forest, amateur actors, and fairies feuding is as funny as the performers. From the first scene, we are invited into declarations of love, threats of death, and a royal wedding. The actors have clearly studied their craft, and chewed the scenery beautifully, declaring it to be delicious.
The four lovers, Lysander ( Emerson Jurentkuff,) Demetrius (Ryan Vermette,) Hermia (Iris Harmon,) and Helena (Ella Kendall,) had the physical comedy really right. The ‘Mechanicals,’ the troupe of amateurs rehearsing for the big wedding performance, were somehow even more outrageous; comedy stunt-work at it’s best.
It might not seem to be the season, but it’s Midsummer in all it’s glory. Don’t miss it (you could use a good laugh, right?) Shakespeare knew what he was doing – so does the AVPA.
Nov. 13- 16 at the Kirk Douglas Theater
Photo credit – ivonne maria photography.com
