By my count, this is the third time I've seen Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream staged. The one currently running at OU is by far the best.
Of course, this may have something to do with the fact that the other two were "Shakespeare in the Park"-type performances.
There is something to seeing Shakespeare on a professional stage, with lighting, sound and enunciation. That's when you get the genius of Shakespeare -- the amazing interplay between fast-paced dialogue, physical comedy and immaculate plotting. What also helped that the director of the OU staging has fixed the weakest part of "Midsummer Night's Dream" as far as a modern, rationalist audience is concerned -- he moved the woods scenes with fairies to a nightclub with hip pranksters.
Go see it if you can. You'll never think of Shakespeare comedies the same way again.
I agree completely. One of the best performances I've seen from the University Theater in the last few years. I'm kind of hoping to get to see it again.
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