Absolutely adore 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', ever since primary school when studying it and reading it the text out loud when playing a character (loved that way of learning, not everyone did). Love the colourful characters, the magic, the playfulness, the hilarious comedy and at times pathos. The story may seem complicated on first glance, with a lot going on, but actually 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is one of Shakespeare's most accessible plays, and it is one of my favourites of his and adore the amazing text and how he uses it.
Have seen many versions of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and there is a good deal to admire about them all, even the weakest which for me is the mixed feelings 80s BBC production. This Shakespeare Globe production is a very worthy, mostly enormously entertaining and charming one. It isn't on the same level as the 1935 film and the 2019 National Theatre Live production, or one of the best Shakespeare Globe productions from 2008-2020 available, but it is very, very good nonetheless.
For me, not all the comedy quite works. Namely in the (at times crude) ad libbing and when the actors went off script, which tended to jar with Shakespeare's text and felt like broad mugging, especially in the antics of Bottom.
Did feel as well that the climactic play within a play scene was rather overblown and strained a little too hard for laughs when it didn't need to.
On the other hand, there is so much to recommend. The best aspect being the acting, which is marvellous all round pretty much. Especially Michelle Terry, who doubles as Hippolyta and Titania, who is imperious, has great comic timing and has the right amount of pathos (particularly as Titania). Pearce Quigley is larger than life and often hilariously caustic as Bottom, did find some of Bottom's antics a bit much but really enjoyed Quigley's performance. John Light, also doubling in the roles of Theseus and Oberon, particularly relishes Oberon's overbearing-ness and nobility. Matthew Tennyson's Puck is wonderfully mischievous. No problems at all with everybody else, but they stood out.
Visually, it was tasteful and had a real sense of enchantment and atmosphere, with for example the branches on the floor emphasising danger. Loved the intimacy of the photography. The music is beautiful to listen to and really takes one back to the late 16th century. The stage direction never falls into distaste or lack of sense, especially good in the spirited choreography, the patriarchal tensions and the sense of danger going into the action in the woods. The opening scene is also electrifying and while there may not be many innovations it's not played too safe either. On the most part, the comedy is very funny yet the heart of the play is not lost at the same time, while the action manages not to lose cohesion even the action becomes more complicated. Shakespeare's text is wonderfully poetic.
All in all, very well done despite a few issues. 8/10.
