A Midsummer Night's Dream

This was certainly a very different production from any I have attended before.

When out walking a couple of years ago, Helen Schofield, the director and producer of The Forth Act was inspired and had the vision of setting up a new community theatre group which would be accessible to as many as possible. The aim was to work with local people, groups and businesses in order to present an outdoor staging of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in the beautiful Italian Sunken Gardens at Saughton Park. The response to this innovative idea was incredible with local community groups eager to get involved designing and making the set and costumes. People who had never set foot on a stage before were keen to be part of this ambitious adventure. The end result was a fascinating production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ opening on the Summer Solstice and surely demonstrating community theatre at its very best.

This 21st century take on the familiar Shakespeare comedy stuck diligently to the script but the modern day actions, reactions and innuendo brought real excitement and frivolity to the piece. Set in the ‘Athens of the North’, Edinburgh,the characters spoke in their own native accents, some very Scottish, American and English and it was easy to believe that they could have been a group of people at school or employed somewhere in the city.

The four young lovers in their shorts, t shirts and trainers and the gents wedding party in the finale in kilt or dinner jacket were far removed from what one expects in a Shakespeare production.

There was a real mixture of experience on stage. It is perhaps unfair to pick out individual performances as this was a definite team effort with each character putting his or her own stamp on the part they were playing and interpreting it in their own way.

The four lovers absolutely gelled as a quartet. Sarah Michelle Ault attacked the part of Helena delivering her emphatic, long speeches with real conviction leaving us in no doubt of her frustration in trying to get her man. Hermia was delightfully played by Sophie Ollivier Tyler whose engaging performance easily swayed from the sweet, innocent to the feisty, determined Hermia. These two tomboyish characters came over well as sparring partners. Their two dashing suitors Lysnader (Chris Young) and Demetrius (Nathaniel Forsyth) both gave convincing performances and had lots of fun in their roles. Their reactions when waking up after the confusion with the love potions and falling in love with the’ wrong girl’ were most amusing.

Egeus, father of Hermia, doesn’t have too much to say and yet is central to the plot. I did enjoy Gregor Sloss’ very strong Scottish accent and characterisation and his look of disgust as he sits watching ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ the ‘play within the play ‘

Rhona O’Donnell was a wonderfully mischievous Puck cunning and revelling in the havoc he creates. Light footed and nimble she made good use of the fourth wall in her communication and interaction with the audience. Titania’s fairies Mustard Seed (Mairi Cross), Cobweb (Maria Sainz) and Peaseblossom (Eilidh Smith) looked great in their costumes. No tinsel, sparkle or flimsy fairy costumes but dressed perhaps more like punk rockers.

Gavin Macdonald and Cosette Bolt made a fine pairing as Theseus and Hippolyta both assertive in their disdain for one another but fortunately all ends well for the pair. Susan Cameron’s Philostrate, Theseus’ ’Head of Entertainment’, certainly conveyed that she was a force to be reckoned with.

Gavin and Cosette were also cast together as Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the fairies. Gavin delivered his long speeches with aplomb while Cosette was an extremely animated Titania utterly flirtatious and seductive when she awakes and falls in love with the ass headed Bottom.

While all of these characters brought real fun and humour to the plot, the real comedy comes from the mechanics. These were easily recognisable in modern day jobs readily seen in and around Edinburgh. Quince (Diane Waugh) a most enthusiastic librarian, Robin (Phil Dalgleish) a fast food delivery cyclist, Snout (Wag) a tour guide, Snug (David Blackie) a scaffolder, Flute (Michael Stephens) a bagpipe mender and Bottom (Ian Stewart) a weaver of tweed and would be leader of this group. Ian Stewart was superbly cast as Bottom with excellent comedic timing, never missing a trick. This motley group meet regularly in their local pub, the Mechanics Arms and are rehearsing their play Pyramus and Thisbe which they perform at the wedding ceremony where fortunately the tangled weave of romances have been sorted out. This whole scene with each mechanic acting out his part with real enthusiasm was incredibly amusing but well controlled by all players so that it was never over done or became slap stick. Their costumes made from newspapers were very imaginative, clever and most creative.

Original music varied from ethereal to rap to suit the scene. The set was minimal but most effective with the use of two trucks with drapes which could be opened or closed to change the setting. Greenery and flowers on either side simply created the wood.

This was altogether a most ingenious production by an accomplished and enthusiastic cast who were undoubtedly having fun and who appeared totally at ease with the huge amount of dialogue. I have the greatest admiration for Helen for fulfilling this most ambitious vision and congratulate all who helped in any way at all to pull off this enchanting and inventive production. It can be difficult enough to put on a show in an established theatre which has all the technical equipment in place but to achieve a production like this outdoors is taking things to a different level.

The Forth Act should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved in this their first venture and I am so pleased that the weather also stayed favourable for this ‘al fresco’ production. I do hope that this is just the first of many more innovative and inventive productions. It is so refreshing to see something which is quite different, Huge congratulations to all involved in any way. A real triumph !

 

 

 

 

 

 

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