A Midsummer Night's Dream Review

Shakespeare’s best loved comedy and one of his most famous scripts could have proved something of a daunting task for this term’s cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This was far from the case. Instead of shrinking from the challenge, the gutsy gaggle of Giggleswickians rose to the roles of some notoriously tricky characters with the verve that they always do! As a result, the performances on the 7 and 8 of February were engaging, enjoyable and extremely enthusiastic. An added bonus was to be able to enjoy some performances from the talented actors of Settle College who contributed once more to the show.

Directors Katie Baskeyfield, Gareth Warburton and Barbara Cilgram immersed the audience in a suitably dreamy theatre. Lights were low with dark blues and greens scattering the walls as the audience filtered in, crunching over autumnal leaves from the Giggleswick grounds. Conflictual love songs could be heard faintly in the background, hinting at the root cause of the carefully crafted chaos that would soon ensue. A wonderful touch was encouraging the actors to converse with the audience before the play began. This created an appropriately informal atmosphere that captured the essence of an Elizabethan theatre. 

Perhaps what was most impressive on the directorial front was that Gareth and Katie managed to condense a 150-minute play with several plot lines into just 35 minutes. One could be forgiven for wondering if this would cause a loss of meaningful content and structure. It did not. Well-chosen scripts and full-bodied commitments from the young actors and actresses guaranteed that both nights were a joyful success.

Georgia presented an authoritative and yet gentle Hippolyta whose presence matched that of Charlie’s Duke Theseus. Charlie cut a commanding figure from the start as he wrestled with the various demands and opinions of the desperate lovers. Simultaneously, Max as Demetrius and Leopold as Lysander quarrelled over first Hermia and then Helena, causing great hilarity before their conflict was resolved. Both showed superb comedic awareness in the timings of their actions and lines - a cracking duo!

When the girls got their turn to do battle, they certainly didn’t hold back. Grace’s Hermia began the play as a desperate figure with Isaac’s Egeus attempting to decide his daughter’s future. Later however, she exploded from the set when hurling accusations against Lilly’s Helena. Lilly was also fantastic in portraying a perplexed and yet no less fearsome Helena who had to put up with the enchanted affections of both Lysander and Demetrius for the second half of the play.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream would not be complete without the catalytic efforts of the capricious Puck who Lydia stealthily embodied, subtly flitting from scene to scene and changing the course of the play with fantastic guile. In rather a stark yet just as brilliant contrast, the expressive bumbling of Harry’s interpretation of Bottom managed to elicit significant laughter from the young audience. As the play drew near to its close, Lily as Titania awoke from her slumber and merrily fell in love with Bottom who now had the ears (and briefly the head) of an ass. Her sleepy affection for the animal drew another surge of amusement from the floor as the final act began. Again, carnage continued when the Mechanicals took to the stage to perform their play. Lucy’s increasingly irritated Quince led the disorderly group and her building frustration towards them made the act all the more enjoyable.

Both evenings were a pleasure to attend and all cast members deserve to be commended. A strong understanding of their roles and the determination to entertain led the cast to collectively create a genuinely amusing interpretation of the renowned Shakespearean comedy. Not only were the audience engaged and laughing but the actors themselves appeared to be relishing in the opportunity to present their considerable ability. I must offer a huge congratulations to everyone involved!

Miles Kinge

Teacher of English, Giggleswick School