Perchance Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream opened July 6 (find their full schedule here), and it is chockablock with lovely foolishness. Considered one of William Shakespeare’s great ‘middle’ comedies and popular since he wrote it in 1595-6, AMND concerns two pairs of young Athenian lovers (or would-be so), Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, impeded by family obligations and/or their own silly stubbornness; the mischievous intervention of Puck and other fairies, spurred by Oberon’s desire to punish his Titania (his own object of much desiring)); and a troupe of labourers preparing their ardent, inept play-with-a-play in honour of the Duke of Athen’s wedding. Fast-paced hi-jinks and horseplay ensue, aswirl around an eye of, yes, true love.
Alongside Andy Jones as Bottom, Marthe Bernard as Hernia, Erika Squires as Helena, and Tau-Hao Hsu as Puck, much of the cast nimbly juggles multiple complementary roles: with Stephen Oates playing Theseus and Oberon, Selina Asgar as Hippolyta and Titania, Blake Pyne as Lysander and Flute, Andrew Halliday as Demetrius and Snug, Marquita Walsh as Petra Quince and Philostrate, Andrew James O’Brien as Tom Snout and Mustardseed, Christa Borden Edges as Starveling and Peasebottom; also appearing are Olive Jones as Moth, and Franny McKeown as Cobweb. All approach their roles with polish and verve: Squires is particular is great fun, and Andy Jones of course is superb.
The 1970s-meets-Renaissance costume and set design is by Alison Helmer, with sound design and composition by Jodie Richardson, and musical arrangements by Nicole Hand. And here’s more about the Perchance Artistic Team.
Written by Williams Shakespeare (and here’s all you need to know about him), AMND is directed by Danielle Irvine, who keeps all the artistic and logistic elements in deft/daft motion. I was really taken by it, and taken away by it.
Perchance’s reconstituted theatre is composed of two half circles of three rows of canvas-ceilinged seating, with backrests so it’s fairly comfortable (and there are cushions available for rental, plus you can buy tickets to win a most special seat). It’s interesting to have the audience so visible to itself, in keeping of course with the original 16th-century staging.
This five act comedy comes in at a brisk two and a half hours, with intermission. Snacks can be purchased, and audience members can bring food and drink to their seats. Conception Harbour is about 50 minutes drive from St John’s.

“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
(Lysander, Act 1 Scene 1)

(Photos: Top, Perchance stage: above, Andy Jones as Bottom, Selina Asgard as Titania, and Marthe Bernard and Erika Squires as Hermia and Helena, cast photos courtesy Erika Squires.)