A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot

The Drilling Company

July 15, 2016

Photo courtesy of The Drilling Company

The Drilling Company’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an updated, fast paced, Lower East Side experience that you MUST see.  Director and designer Kathy Curtiss keeps the action moving and building for a full two hours and twenty minutes without an intermission.  She unifies this relatively large cast with a coherent style and edginess that strikes a chord in the imagination.  Every moment is alive, and Shakespeare’s words ring loud and clear in the expansive outdoor space.

Photo courtesy of The Drilling Company

Mary Linehan is charming and feisty as Hermia.  She steals your heart and holds her own against Kathleen Simmonds’ fiery Helena.  Eddie Shields and Brad Frost are daring as Lysander and Demetrius.  These four actors light up the stage.  Their physical antics are keenly staged and skillfully executed.  Warren Jackson and Serena E. Miller are bold and earthy as Oberon and Titania.  Their chemistry is palpable and true.  Drew Valins is mischievous and sly as Puck.  His energy is high and focused.  He takes full advantage of his six foot stature to create a Puck that is unique, genuine, and engaging.  Michael Bernstein’s Egeus is authentic and endearing. 

  

Photo courtesy of The Drilling Company

The rustics are a strong ensemble of skilled and funny actors who make the most of every moment.  Their tale of Pyramus and Thisbe takes place in outer space.  The chink in the wall is an opening in a force field.  The lion is a fierce space beast.  Director Kathy Curtiss’ concept works amazingly well.  The scripted adjustments and spontaneous adlibs are witty and entertaining.  Jarrod Bates takes command as Peter Quince, and Jordan Felter amazes as Bottom.  He is honest, bawdy, sensitive, and hilarious.

This is The Drilling Company’s 22^nd season producing Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, and they keep getting better every year.  Don’t miss this exciting and unique interpretation of A Midsummer Night‘s Dream.  There is one more weekend of performances: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 21, 22, and 23 at 8:00 PM.  The Parking Lot is located at 114 Norfolk Street (east side of Norfolk Street between Delancey and Rivington Streets), behind The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center.  Their next production, The Merchant of Venice, performs in the same location July 28 through August 14.  It is also sure to be great. 

Domenick Danza