A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Lyric Hammersmith (Review)
Review by Shanna Schreuder
FILTER Company’s crazy re-imagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream might end up sounding absolutely crazy on paper, but I can assure you that when acted out on stage by this theatre troupe it’s a comedy masterpiece (and not just because Shakespeare wrote it).
Difficult to explain without revealing too much and spoiling all gags, this version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream sticks to the original work, although condensed quite a bit, and adds extra elements to make it something new.
Stand-up, in the capable hands of funnyman Ed Gaughan, opens the show and is dotted throughout. This is quite a smart addition, because it reinforces the concept of a play within a play.
There’s another aspect in this show that beautifully brings this to life, but I don’t want to say because I don’t want to detract from it. Safe to say, it’s great because it feels so authentic and kind of magical. Music and sound effects have their own leading part in this production and seem to be a sublime signature of Filter.
It’s hard to highlight one specific performance as it works so well because everyone is pitch, point and performance perfect. An ensemble piece that is a joy to watch, A Midsummer Night’s Dream certainly reiterates the message that Shakespeare isn’t boring.
Date Range: 19 Feb–19 March, Mon–Sat, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Location: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, King Street, Lyric Square, W6 0QL
Cost: £15–£35