News
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Garden Theatre
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Published Monday 4 July 2011 at 11:10 by Kevin Berry
Stagings of Shakespeare’s tale of midsummer magic seem to be everywhere we turn in the great outdoors. This production, from the Chapterhouse company, must rank as one of the very best on offer
It has an alert director in Andrew Ashenden, who is also a respected fight director and tutor. He fills the raised stage and the area around it with visual flair and comic sparkle, and he keeps the action brisk. The tremendous, full-on scrap between Helena (Cassandra Hodges) and Hermia (Heather Mason), frantically restrained by their lovers, bristles with comic vigour. Titania’s (Laura McKeller) control of Bottom (Marcus Houden) with seemingly invisible strings is a startling moment, summing up the magical forces at work.
The character relationships are spot on. Pairings are well matched. The confrontations are deliciously spicy. Nicky Diss as a more than usually free spirited Puck really stirs the story along. She is at times unsettlingly mischievous, which is all to the good.
Ed Pemberton would look more like Oberon if he wore a fancy waistcoat and/or an elaborately feathered hat. Nothing at all amiss with his performance, though.
This Midsummer Night’s Dream is staged very much within a traditional framework - Tudor costumes et al - but it is played with a freshness of spirit and audience-embracing relish.
Hi, Emma Hewlett here!
Hold onto your wings and prepare yourself for our forth coming event at Kilmokea Gardens on Sunday 24th July
A Chapterhouse Theatre Company production of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream By William Shakespeare
in Kilmokea Gardens Great Island, Campile, Co Wexford
Sunday 24th July, 6.00pm
Tickets and Information from
Kilmokea +353 51 388109
Emma 086 6641946
Email stay@kilmokea.com
Adults €15 / Children €10 / Families (2 Adults & 2 Children) €45
10% reduction for tickets purchased before 30th June 2011
Grounds open for picnics from 5.00pm. Hot & cold drinks and wine will be on sale.
Please bring your own low-backed seating or rugs.
We are presenting Shakespeare’s renowned romantic comedy where Robin Goodfellow will whisk you away into the magical Athenian forest and this beautiful new production brought alive with magnificent costumes, wonderful sets and a stunning new musical score.
Enjoy some relaxed summer’s entertainment with this incomparable tale of romance, magic and excitement as the fun and frolics of the fairy world delight all the family. The audience shall be Picnicing in the magical surroundings of beautiful Kilmokea gardens and enjoy a wonderful evening of theatre under the stars.