Staff writer
Contra Costa Times
04/02/2008
If you need a promise of sunshine and smiles that is much more dependable than the current weather, take yourself over to Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for Center Rep's wily, innovative and enormously appealing production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
This wild blend of romance, magic, potions and the sort of spirits that
playfully haunt warm summer nights is a bright theatrical breeze that,
for at least a couple of hours, will take your mind off whatever might
have you upset.
In the magical world of "Midsummer," life is a headlong and
uncompromisingly funny race toward happily ever after. And it all starts
at the palace, where a marriage has been arranged between Hermia (Lizzie
Calogero) and Demetrius (Darren Bridgett). But Hermia loves Lysander
(Adam Yazbeck), and Demetrius is adored by Helena (Elise Youssef). And
just before Hermia's father, Egeus (Richard Louis James), can demand
that his daughter either be executed or shipped off to a nunnery, the
four young lovers run away to the woods, where everything is crazy,
but in a much more pleasant way.
As the quartet of lovers rattles across the forest trying to sort things
out, we also encounter the rude mechanicals, tradesmen (Arthur Jason
Keng, Mark Anderson Phillips, Joel Roster, Liam Vincent and Michael
A. Berg) who are rehearsing a play for the royal wedding. We also learn
that the royals from the castle, King Theseus (Kalli Jonsson) and Queen
Hippolyta (Carie Kawa), have been transformed into the fairy king and
queen, and one of the king's men, Philostrate (Mick Mize), has been
turned into a super-sprite named Puck.
Not surprisingly, the story remains a classic mad dash, but director
Michael Butler has given the show a sassy sort of attitude that plays
a brief homage to Cirque du Soleil when two acrobats from the band of
fairies, played by members of the SF. Dance Brigade (Sarah Bush, Fredrika
Keefer, Krissy Keefer, Lena Gatchalian and Kimberly B. Valmore), fly
in from the ceiling swinging on elastic ropes.
This sets the tone for the flashy style of the entire production, which
blends top-notch acting and dancing (choreography by Krissy Keefer),
as well as wonderful music, including a score by Marc Ream, intense
physical comedy and a take-no-prisoners presentational style that has
this "Midsummer" moving across the stage like a jet-powered
circus parade.
Contributing to the mood of the piece is a clever and flexible set by
Kim A. Tolman that serves as everything from the castle to a jungle
gym for the dancers. The lighting by Kurt Landisman and sound design
by Will McCandless also enhance the ambience of the show beautifully.
