Brisbane Arts Theatre bids farewell to its home on Petrie Terrace with a return to its most-performed production: Shakespeare’s fairyland comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Brisbane Arts Theatre has been based at the theatre on Petrie Terrace for 70 years, and this 2024 production is the seventh time they have staged A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Co-directed by Alex Lanham and Nicky Whichelow, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a significant undertaking for a community theatre and the cast perform it with impressive skill, polish, and dedication.
Young lovers Hermia (Madeline Harper) and Lysander (Troy Cations) sneak away from Athens to marry in secret and avoid the wrath of Hermia’s father, who does not approve of Lysander. However, they are followed by Hermia’s other suitor Demetrius (Harry Cardell-Ree) and her best friend Helena (Kailan Tyler-Moss), who is besotted with Demetrius. The four young Athenians soon become lost in the forest and are subjected to the mischievous whims of the fairies that reside there. Also roaming the forest is a group of amateur actors, rehearsing for the Duke Theseus’ upcoming wedding feast, and they too are caught up in the magical mischief.
The fairy queen Titania (Cheney Hossack) refuses to give up her changeling child and this sparks a feud with the fairy king Oberon (Shaun King). Moved by Helena’s love for Demetrius, Oberon sends Puck to cast a spell on him, so that he will return her affections. Instead, Puck stumbles upon Lysander, so when he is awoken by Helena he falls madly in love with her as well. Cations and Cardell-Rae were distractingly hilarious while Hermia and Helena argued, glaring at each other as they competed for Helena’s affection only to melt into soppy smiles when she looked their way.
Tilly Wood and Peter Muir gave standout performances as Puck and Bottom, respectively. Wood brought plenty of cheek and charisma to the role of Puck, and Muir was an amusingly obnoxious diva as Bottom, the player who is magically transformed into a donkey and beloved of the fairy queen. Felix Boros was also very funny as Oberon’s silent cup-bearer, credited as Sloberon, who copied the movements of the fairy king and competed with Puck for his favour. The players also gave excellent comedic performances as a group, led by the beleaguered director Quince (Marisa Bucolo).
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a long work and the actors did an impressive job with the length and the rhythm of the Shakespearean language, although there was some ad-libbing by the time the play’s wedding arrived.
Set and costumes designed by Nick Scotney brought the magical forest to life and the fairy costuming were especially remarkable, with detailed designs that indicated the characters’ allegiances and were inspired by their surroundings. Lighting design by George Pitt frequently split the stage between Oberon’s warm reds and Titania’s cool blues and purples, and sound design by Zoe Power contributed to the play’s magic.
Full of physical comedy and dedicated, whole-hearted performances, A Midsummer Night’s Dream upholds Brisbane Arts Theatre’s legacy of high quality, independent community theatre and closes a chapter in Brisbane’s theatre history on a high note.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed at Brisbane Arts Theatre, Petrie Terrace, from 4 May – 1 June 2024.
For ticketing and further information, visit the Brisbane Arts Theatre website.
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