The Preview of Grad's 2006 Midsummer Night's Dream
Wed, 15 Mar 2006, 11:13 amWalter Plinge4 posts in thread
The Preview of Grad's 2006 Midsummer Night's Dream
Wed, 15 Mar 2006, 11:13 amLeece's Rambling Reviews
Grad's production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Tale
New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia
Directed by Stephen Lee
This was not a 'real' performance, Mr Lee explained at the start that if any disaster happened they'd stop and put it right, which they wouldn't have the luxury of during a true performance.
All this needs is a full house so the actors and audience get that feedback loop happening, there weren't enough of us last night to give them what they needed. Their energy and delivery were terrific, and splendid characterisation from everyone. This sort of performance from a technical rehearsal is super stuff, I want to see it as part of a bigger audience!
There's a big cast, so I will be missing people out - but they were ALL excellent.
We sat upstairs, on the first floor (the peacocks get 3rd) and even though the rail got in the way a little bit, and the spotlights get in your eyes a bit, it was worth it because it was a super view from above, recommended.
The beautiful but fey and feral faeries drumming away harm from Titania as she sleeps are a highlight, Puck is excitable and mishchievous, Oberon kind of forbidding and scarey one minute, crowing the next in true Unseelie fashion, dangerous and unpredictable, interfering and manipulative.
The Coarse Actors strike a chord with anyone who has ever participated in any way with community theatre...they're really very good, watch the long suffering Peter Quince's expression as she tries to herd cats...and for how they get the lass who plays the Wall to keep going. Hilarious! A Lion a third of the size of the person she's meant to be attacking...and so forth.
I watch way too much [url=http://www.mst3kinfo.com/mstfaq/basics.html]Mystery Science Theatre 3000[/url] (which is a puppet show where bad movies get heckled) so I viewed the play during the wedding with unrestrained delight as it seemed I was watching proto-mystie, but then the closing monologue changed the mood beautifully. "Thisbe" is to be congratulated. You really could have heard a pin drop.
The actors could be heard clearly, even when the wind picked up and started blowing things around.
There's a great deal of ribaldry, running jokes and sight gags throughout this, it's really funny. Don't let anyone stop you laughing if you see a joke, it's a comedy!
Also, and I'm not doing this to sell tickets, and I hope they keep it in, Titania's female-played fairies seem to get Very Friendly With Each Other when Titania and Bottom are snuggled up. Yes, I believe that we may actually finally have here what a lot of reviewers have only dreamed about.
Speaking of Bottom (ahem) this is also the first time I have ever seen a lip synching donkey's head, which is technically harder to achieve than the previous! A lovely head, carried magnificently by the the bombastic Bottom. Watch for Bottom's checking of what benefits come with a donkey's head, and the reaction.
I really liked Hermia, she was so feisty! And the Lion! And...there's so much, you all did well, this is really going to shine before a full audience!
A super job everyone! Thank you for the show.
It can be viewed at the New Fortune Theatre March 15-18 & 22-25 at 8.00pm. I would suggest booking.
Recommended, and a suprise birthday party when you're bushwalking on the Sid and Nancy scale.
Some of the stuff [url=http://www.cafepress.com/aliciasmith/267203] I do in the real world[/url].
Thou bootless doghearted bladder!
Grad's production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Tale
New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia
Directed by Stephen Lee
This was not a 'real' performance, Mr Lee explained at the start that if any disaster happened they'd stop and put it right, which they wouldn't have the luxury of during a true performance.
All this needs is a full house so the actors and audience get that feedback loop happening, there weren't enough of us last night to give them what they needed. Their energy and delivery were terrific, and splendid characterisation from everyone. This sort of performance from a technical rehearsal is super stuff, I want to see it as part of a bigger audience!
There's a big cast, so I will be missing people out - but they were ALL excellent.
We sat upstairs, on the first floor (the peacocks get 3rd) and even though the rail got in the way a little bit, and the spotlights get in your eyes a bit, it was worth it because it was a super view from above, recommended.
The beautiful but fey and feral faeries drumming away harm from Titania as she sleeps are a highlight, Puck is excitable and mishchievous, Oberon kind of forbidding and scarey one minute, crowing the next in true Unseelie fashion, dangerous and unpredictable, interfering and manipulative.
The Coarse Actors strike a chord with anyone who has ever participated in any way with community theatre...they're really very good, watch the long suffering Peter Quince's expression as she tries to herd cats...and for how they get the lass who plays the Wall to keep going. Hilarious! A Lion a third of the size of the person she's meant to be attacking...and so forth.
I watch way too much [url=http://www.mst3kinfo.com/mstfaq/basics.html]Mystery Science Theatre 3000[/url] (which is a puppet show where bad movies get heckled) so I viewed the play during the wedding with unrestrained delight as it seemed I was watching proto-mystie, but then the closing monologue changed the mood beautifully. "Thisbe" is to be congratulated. You really could have heard a pin drop.
The actors could be heard clearly, even when the wind picked up and started blowing things around.
There's a great deal of ribaldry, running jokes and sight gags throughout this, it's really funny. Don't let anyone stop you laughing if you see a joke, it's a comedy!
Also, and I'm not doing this to sell tickets, and I hope they keep it in, Titania's female-played fairies seem to get Very Friendly With Each Other when Titania and Bottom are snuggled up. Yes, I believe that we may actually finally have here what a lot of reviewers have only dreamed about.
Speaking of Bottom (ahem) this is also the first time I have ever seen a lip synching donkey's head, which is technically harder to achieve than the previous! A lovely head, carried magnificently by the the bombastic Bottom. Watch for Bottom's checking of what benefits come with a donkey's head, and the reaction.
I really liked Hermia, she was so feisty! And the Lion! And...there's so much, you all did well, this is really going to shine before a full audience!
A super job everyone! Thank you for the show.
It can be viewed at the New Fortune Theatre March 15-18 & 22-25 at 8.00pm. I would suggest booking.
Recommended, and a suprise birthday party when you're bushwalking on the Sid and Nancy scale.
Some of the stuff [url=http://www.cafepress.com/aliciasmith/267203] I do in the real world[/url].
Thou bootless doghearted bladder!
Midsummer Night's Dream
Fri, 17 Mar 2006, 12:10 pmThis really is a terrific production with loads of laughs. There are so many standout performances from cast members that it would be unfair to single anyone out (and, yes, I do know a couple of the performers). The New Fortune Theatre is a wonderful setting (complete with peacocks) and Stephen Lee makes full use of the stage and balconies.
Particular mention should go to the creators of the donkey's head (Clare and Pat Stroud and Jonno Beckett) - it is fantastic. Worth going just to see it in operation!
Don't miss this. It is on until 25th March.