A COLD, dull, windy churchyard is a difficult place at the best of times to present Shakespeare’s best-loved and most magical comedy.
Add to that an acting area at least 30 yards from the audience (across a public footpath), a sound system that allowed the audience to hear only every tenth word (with added commentary from the technical crew), and pre-recorded music drowning out any remaining lines, then the production has a steep hill to climb.
Regrettably, the action on the stage fared no better. In a production lacking any perceivable style, inappropriate casting and a failure to understand the basics of verse-speaking and pronunciation completely submerged the fun and magic of this potentially wonderful play.
The young and clearly enthusiastic cast deserved much stronger and clearer direction than ever they had here, with only Ian Rowsell (Oberon) and Courtney Turney (Puck) producing any moments to remember.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Southampton City College Performing Arts Department, St. Mary’s Churchyard.
Ed Howson
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