A Midsummer Night's Dream | A-

The best thing about Shakespeare is that his plays are as accessible now as they were in 1596. The best way to experience Shakespeare is not in a seminar, but on a stage. No one knows that better than the Rutgers Theater Company, who seated the audience right on top of the stage for their performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The entire cast rehearsed and performed in Shakespeare's Globe as a part of a specialized Rutgers year-long residency. After London, their directors Kevin Kittle and Barbara Marchant restaged them to perform at Rutgers from Sept. 3 to 12.

Midsummeris an enchanting comedy about love crossed many times over, late night mischief and magic. It begins with rebellion: Hermia rails against the will of her father, refusing to marry Demetrius (Tim Giles), the suitor forced upon her. She claims her heart belongs to Lysander (Thomas DellaMonica). While Demetrius and Lysander battle over Hermia's heart and hand, poor Helena pines for the love of Demetrius. Evading Athenian law, Hermia and Lysander flee into the forest, and Helena and Demetrius follow them. Not far off, a theater company rehearses in preparation for the duke's wedding. The mortals soon become raveled in the fairy king's (Oberon) mischievous agenda. Together with knavish Puck (Glenn Quentin/Gabriella Fanuele), they make sure that the course of true love never runs smooth for mortals and fairies alike.

The RTC's interpretation emphasized the fun and modern elements of Midsummer. Hermia's (Breanna Foister) teenage-drama-queen tone during her argument with her father was unexpected, yet refreshing. It was impossible not to love Titania's (Annapurna Sriram) electric-blue hot pants. Who could forget Puck? Or should I say Pucks? Two Pucks ran around on stage wreaking double the trouble. I especially enjoyed the Jim Carrey-esque mock performance of Pyramus and Thisbe by Peter Quince and his company of handymen. A dash of Shakespearean song and a drizzle of subtle innuendoes finished the play nicely.

The cast possessed lots of flair and versatility. Among the stellar cast, Pierre Gonzalez played all four of his roles with charisma and gusto, not to mention his stellar vocals when it came time for the songs. Becca Nevins and Jasmine Carmichael both had the audience laughing at Helena's desperate attempts to win over Demetrius. Speaking of funny, Justin Kruger, who played Bottom, made a complete "ass" out of himself as Titania's temporarily beloved. He portrayed Bottom with such naivety and ridiculousness that the audience developed a certain fondness for his character — donkey head or none. 

All the tremendous talent made for a fast-paced, high-octane show. Performers were able to change characters at the drop of a hat or swish of a skirt and managed to do so without ever confusing the audience. Despite a lack of stage settings, the RTC managed to bring Shakespeare's most magical comedy to life. A true tour de force!