A Midsummer Night's Dream: Rose Theatre, Kingston Upon Thames
MORE than 40 years ago Judi Dench collaborated with the director Peter Hall in Shakespeare’s magical, mischief filled comedy where mortals and fairies alike fall under love’s spell.
After the play came a film in which the cast appeared in little more than green body paint and a few strategically placed leaves.
Last night director and star were reunited in a production where Dame Judi, again cast as Titania, played her as Elizabeth I.
Staged in the round on an almost bare stage the play opens with Titania greeting her court.
Things really get under way when Egeus brings his headstrong daughter Hermia before Theseus Duke of Athens.
Hermia (Annabel Scholey) loves Lysander but Egeus wants her to marry Demetrius who is willing, but loved by Helena (Rachael Stirling).
By hook or by crook the four lovers find themselves in the forest at night, where caught up in a row between the king and queen of the fairies over a young Indian boy and through a case of mistaken identity they find their lovers’ positions reversed. Both men now love Helena and Hermia is reviled.
Elsewhere in the forest a group of tradesmen are rehearsing a play for the Duke of Athens’ forthcoming nuptials and this gives Oberon the fairy king an opportunity for revenge on his queen. By turning one into an ass and bewitching Titania he engineers a love tryst between the two.
As you would expect with a cast that includes Dame Judi Dench, the women are strong. Rachael brings out all Helena’s lovesick neediness and the resemblance between her and her mother Diana Rigg who played Helena in 1962 is uncanny.
Annabel as Hermia is believably feisty. Charles Edwards is a wonderfully scheming Oberon and the group of Mechanicals with their Birmingham accents bring out all the laughs their roles require.
The deaths of Pyramus and Thisbe brought a spontaneous round of applause. Disappointments include Puck who is neither mischievious nor naughty enough but merely anxious.
The highlight is the bewitchment of Titania and Bottom the weaver with his ass’s head. Judi Dench makes you believe she is in love with the creature and Bottom (Oliver Chris) is one of the best interpretations of the role I’ve seen.
He is funny, bossy, pompous and bewildered and you can’t help but fall in love with him too.
VERDICT 4/5
Box office: 0871 230 1552
