Midsummer Night’s Dream
By Lorraine Acosta
It is a tale of forbidden love, intrigue and witchcraft. The story begins with lovers Hermia and Lysander fleeing her father who wishes her to marry another, Demetrius. “The course of true love never did run smooth,” Lysander tells Hermia. Indeed mischievous fairies throw a wrench in their plans to wed, cursing their love.
The Lehman College production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens with a single white dress center stage. A forest, castle and a glowing moon are projected on the back wall of the stage, providing background for the scenes.
Hot on the heels of Hermia and Lysander are Demetrius — who is intent on retrieving his fleeing amour — and Helena, who is intent on seducing him. The four young lovers collide in the forest, where they encounter Puck, a fairy, along with his trouble-making posse.
“I wanted to bring out the young love and how foolish we are when we in love,” said the play’s director David Sullivan, a professor at Lehman College.
Fairy Puck dubs himself a merry wanderer and promises to keep things lively with his jests.
And sometime lurk I in a gossip’s bowl,
In very likeness of a roasted crab,
And when she drinks, against her lips I bob
And on her wither’d dewlap pour the ale.
One of the funniest moments of the night came when the mechanicals, a traveling troupe, came out to perform their play. When one of the characters with multiple roles, Francis Flute, a bellows-mender/Thisbe came out dressed as a woman, she had the full house amused.
Sullivan says he selected this Shakespeare production because it has an ensemble cast. “There’s no lead,” he explained and thus it fits the college program.
“This plays offers comedy, love, fantasy, and romance,” said Jason Jeremias, who plays Francis Flute/Thisbe in the play. “There’s a little bit of everything.”
The high-energy cast performed extremely well together and the show was an auspicious start for Sullivan, who joined Lehman’s theater team this semester.
“We have a program that can rival any other program in New York City. I’m excited to be here at Lehman,” said Professor Sullivan.
Some of the upcoming shows are Lehman’s Festival of Theater and Dance from December 7-10, Flyin’ West from February 29-March 4, 2012 and Urine Town from April 25-29, 2012. Visit the Theatre and Dance web site for more information.