A Midsummer Night's Dream will always be the perfect play to stage at the Open Air Theatre. More than any other Shakespeare play, the action conspires with the setting to make something quite magical. The simple set in Chris Luscombe's production, designed by Paul Farnsworth, works well, with grass cleverly growing between the cracks of the stone when the action moves to the forest; although they could have done with a few more tufts.
      This lovely production opens with a small 'orchestra' playing for Theseus' and Hippolyta's amusement. As the play progresses, the orchestra members become characters, a violinist turns out to be Helena, the oboeist, Starveling, and so on. It adds to the feeling of it all being a pageant, with everyone pretending to be something they are not.
      The music is also used to comic effect, with Lysander taking advantage of it to mask his plotting with Hermia, then Helena becoming annoyed when the musicians don't play for her when desired. It provokes laughs but I'm not sure it quite works. The one failing in this production is that everything is played so strongly for laughs, it loses some of its sweetness. We don't care about Helena's plight, we only laugh at her. It is a shame, as Hattie Ladbury is very good and I'm sure she could have had us in the palm of her hand instead of only admiring her comic timing.
      The fairies are delightful, fluttering on in colourful silks and chiffons, playing their pan-pipes prettily. Mark Meadows and Sarah Woodward as Oberon and Titania are both wonderful: imperious as well as fun-loving. Their quarrel is harsh but also a game. When Titania falls in love with Bottom she is transformed... I have never seen such a raunchy Titania and it is great fun. And when they get over their quarrel, their bond is obvious.
      The mechanicals managed the amazing feat of being more realistic than the lovers. Although all completely over the top, they all, without exception, did it so well that one sympathised and felt for them in their various ordeals. Although I have to admit that Hermia (Olivia Darnley) did come into her own when she loses her temper, and I grew to like her very much.
      What can be said of Ian Talbot? His Bottom exceeds all other Bottoms. He is imbued with all the jokes of previous incarnations. To top it all, a plane flew overhead with perfect timing, just as he said the line 'My soul is in the sky', and Talbot, clocking it and milking it for all he was worth, left the audience with tears of laughter pouring down their faces. The lion had a marvellous roar, and Thomas Padden was a beautiful shy Moon. Definitely one of the best renditions of Pyramus and Thisbe ever seen.
      It is always a pleasure to watch a production where the actors seem to be enjoying themselves as much as the audience. Everything about this Midsummer Night's Dream conjures up fun and entertainment. On a warm summer's night, with a picnic, some jazz and a glass of Pimm's beforehand, what could be better?
Francine Brody