In Dreams

We picked A Midsummer Night's Dream (2014) because it is both Shakespeare and Julie Taymor - our third time for this pairing, after Titus and Tempest. This time, it is basically a filmed stage play, which makes sense, because that’s what she’s known for.

The staging starts with a little person (Kathryn Hunter) getting into bed. Then the rude mechanicals attach lines to the sheets and hoist her up into the rafters. Then the play begins. Taymor has made many edits to the script, which you don’t notice too much, because the sound recording isn’t that good - my only issue with the way the play is staged. There seemed to be multiple cameras onstage, so we get a lot of handheld movement and closeups, without ever catching a glimpse of the cameras (the way you do in concert films, for ex). It actually was a little much in the scene where Egeus is demanding that Hermia marry Demetrius. I think this calmed down a little as the show went on, or I just got used to it.

The stage effects are the best part - billowing cloth for fog, for instance, or a projected ever-blooming flower. Black-clad kabuki-style stage hands hold pole for the forest, and use them to block or lead the poor lost lovers. And since it’s Taymor, there are puppet/costumes, deer and hounds for the hunt in the fourth act.

We didn’t recognize anyone from the cast, except David Haresden as Oberon. He is the Martian Manhunter on Supergril. Mandi Masden was great as Helena. Since she is a black woman, the quips about her being “not fair” were a little close to the bone. Most outstanding is Kathryn Hunter as Puck. She had the general feel of Joel Grey in Cabaret, but also she was a bit of a contortionist. Another sort of special human special effect.

It all ends, of course, with the craftsmen’s dramatic league performing Pyramis and Thisbe, quite humorously. But their Thisbe, Peter Flute, is played by Zachary Infante as an Italian (?) immigrant. He seems to get deeply into the role, bringing real pathos to the clownish part. A lovely way to end the play.