Playcrafters presents Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Next up for Playcrafters is a rollicking romantic comedy of love in all of its incantations. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of William Shakespeare’s most enduring and imaginative stage plays of the 16th century, where men and woman find both euphoria and chaotic confusion while in the thralls of Cupid.
“It’s all about young love and marriage—and the romanticizing of it,” said Director Chuck Yerger, of the work that is a delightful departure from Shakespeare’s earlier works in the English Renaissance period. Yerger, a long time veteran in the theater biz and former theater director at Spring Ford High School, is making his directorial debut this season.
Set in the mythical woodlands of Fairyland, the 23-character story draws on Greek mythology and consists of various subplots that are all connected to the wedding celebration of Theseus, Duke of Athens (Tim Courtney), and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons (Ann Kashishian).
The main plot centers on the upper crust Athenian lovers: Hermia (Catharine Carmody) who is in love with Lysander (Nick Cardillo), despite her father Egeus’ (Mark Benson) desire for her to marry someone else; and Helena (Mackenzie Moyer) who is in love with Demetrius (Justin Caiazzo) and the comical and convoluted journey they make in the 1 hour and 40-minute performance.
The dream also involves the “Commoners,” who want to perform a play in honor of the Duke’s wedding and are controlled and manipulated by the fairies. The commoners include Peter Quince (Curtis Cockenberg), Nick Botto (Chris Braak), Francis Flute (Evan Sherwood), Robin Starveling (Jared Pinkham) and Snout (Pat McGurk).
Puck, the naughty sprite (Zoe Muller) leads the others (Jaiden Herbetko and Grace Rogers) into hilarious mishaps and confusion all inspired by the fairies, (Emma Muller, Chelsea Sharp, Lillian Pyskaty, and Ivy Yeager). The Duke’s party planner, “the master of the revels” is Philostrate (Joe Welsh).
While the fairy King (Andy Maksymowych) is quarreling with Titania, the fairy queen (Allison Deratzian), he calls upon Puck to concoct a magical love potion. Soon the fairy’s brew causes the lovers to become star crossed and, as though in a strange dream, the sequence of events draws itself into a tragically comical series of misadventures.
“We’re keeping the set simple,” said Yerger, “as it would have been in Shakespeare’s day, and it basically contains three scenes: an Athen’s court, Peter Quince’s house, and the forest. It’s going to be very colorfully costumed… visually very exciting.”
The production crew includes: Producer, Lori Maxwell; Set/Master Carpenter, Jeff Maxwell; Stage Manager, Joe Welsh; Asst. Stage Manager, Abby Sturgis; Lighting, Ryan Kadwill; Costumes, Sherry Yerger.
As the lighthearted comedic fare features young people in their finery falling in and out of love, it segues into a play within a play that lends to the likes of a happily weird dream. When two dueling men fall for the same woman and a woman finds favor with a man who resembles a donkey, you can only hope that it’s a play on the subconscious. And unlike some dreams, this one ends as happily as you can imagine. If you go: Playcrafters presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Barn 2011 Store Road @ Rt. 73 Skippack, PA 19474 July 14-16; 22, 23, 28-30 at 8 p.m. July 24 at 3 p.m. Prices: $17.00 Info: 610-384-4005 www.playcrafters.org