Atri Banerjee's production of Shakespeare's comic romance at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre brings magic through music, with rock-infused performances and a fairy folk band. The show runs until 18 July.
Musical Magic and Fairy Folk
"Rock'n'roll, you can't beat it," says a character, and the production often feels like gig theatre when fairies and Athenians grab handheld microphones for musical numbers. The folk-infused melodies that accompany the drama, sometimes halting it, are composed by Maimuna Memon. Titania's fairy crew are a supercool four-piece group playing electric guitar, violin, keyboard, and other instruments. Theseus is a rock star; so is Puck.
Max Pappenheim's sound design enthrals, with tweeting birds merging with those in the park, while Naomi Dawson's set opens to the forest world with open doors leading from the artificial to the real. A banner reads "This Green Plot" and a dressing rail is tucked in the backdrop.
Stories and Performances
The show feels less smooth in its conjoined stories: the forthcoming wedding of Hippolyta (Jenny Rainsford) and Theseus (Olivier Huband), the dispute between fairy king and queen Oberon (Huband) and Titania (Rainsford), the antics of runaway lovers in the forest, and the comedy of the mechanicals.
There is modernity and humour, particularly through Bottom (Nadeem Islam), who is D/deaf and brings sign language and fabulous physical comedy. However, some innovation appears borrowed from Jamie Lloyd's school; the set's stairs differentiate between Athenian, human, and fairy worlds but seem derivative of the bleachers in Lloyd's Evita.
Costumes and Verse
Characters and costumes have a hipsterish look with cool contemporary wear crossed with period flecks like ruffles and puffball skirts. Wry modern-day asides ("I see you", "Be cool") do not jar but some beauty of the verse is muted. Wisdoms on love and illusion are faithfully there ("Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind") but they float unanchored.
The doubling of royal couples is not distinctive enough, and Theseus and Hippolyta's chemistry is unconvincing. Other couples work better: Hermia (Hiftu Quasem) is every inch the rebel daughter who runs away with Lysander (Misia Butler). Helena (Mary Malone) is a highlight with wonderfully tortured comedy from her unrequited love for Demetrius (Terique Jarrett). Puck (Georgia Bruce) pours "love in idleness" into eyes, sings, and banters, becoming a compere to the gig.
Mechanicals and Pace
The world of the mechanicals brings great ticklish fun; every character is endearing and entertaining. Yet the pace slows so much that their play is too long and laboured. This is a dreamy production in look and sound, but you do not feel like you have quite entered its enchantments.
