This was delivered with such humour, most notably when they sat in a bathtub together with champagne glasses. Whilst at points the dialogue-switch seemed glaringly apparent, the change in dynamic did, actually, only enhance the humour, particularly with the same-sex attraction of Oliver Chris’ Oberon and Hammed Animashaun’s Bottom. Instead of Oberon and Puck machinating against Titania, it was reversed to have the Queen of the Fairies, played by the lovable Gwendoline Christie, and her assistant Puck, played by David Moorst, perform their various tricks on Oberon. With same-sex kisses, aerial acrobatics, and a reversal in the roles of Titania and Oberon, the audience were left with feelings of empowerment and warmth. Nicholas Hytner’s production drags Shakespeare kicking and screaming into the modern age – and it works. However, this by no means compromises entertainment value. Having seen this production in September there are elements of the live show that are lost in the screening. Bridge Theatre’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is no exception, bringing the magic and fantasy of Shakespeare’s comedy to quarantined households. From ‘National Theatre at Home’, BBC’s ‘Culture in Quarantine’ and The Royal Opera House’s ‘Our House to Your House’, there are certainly a lot of opportunities for avid theatregoers to enjoy theatre from the comfort of their own home. Puck leads the lovers through the woods by imitating their voices, until they all fall into a dazed sleep then sweetly applies the solution.In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, theatre companies have brought their lovable productions to an online format. The quartet quarrels furiously: and Oberon, equally furious with Puck, orders him to administer the antidote to Lysander. Smothered by the praises of both men, who roundly reject the arriving Hermia, Helena reaches the peak of exasperation, accusing Hermia of goading the fellows to such a cruel joke. No sooner does Helena enter with Lysander on her heels than Demetrius awakes, ready to adore her. Demetrius stops to rest, and Oberon bestows an antidote on him whilst Puck flies to find the others. Seeing Hermia and Demetrius stagger in - she accusing him of having killed Lysander - they realize Puck has enchanted the wrong Athenian. Her fairies fly to attend him, and he falls asleep in her arms. Left alone, he sings to cheer himself … and Tytania, waking to his strains, is smitten on the spot. The transformation puts Bottom’s terrified colleagues to flight. Puck overhears and decides to have some fun by turning Bottom’s head into that of an ass. The craftsmen, gathered in the woods for rehearsal, consider some revisions to their script. The Fairies sing their Queen to sleep, and Oberon drops the magic juice upon her eyes. He follows, leaving Hermia to awaken alone from a terrible dream. He proclaims his love and she, believing he mocks her, runs off in a rage. Helena rouses Lysander, who is instantly smitten. Demetrius arrives with Helena at his heels he abandons her near the sleeping pair. Puck, finding Lysander and Hermia asleep, mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and sprinkles the juice over his eyes. After some discussion, Peter Quince, the leader, casts Nick Bottom as the lover Pyramus and Francis Flute as his lady Thisbe. Six craftsmen meet to rehearse a play which they hope to perform for the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens to Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons. Oberon enters and overhears, and bids Puck drop the magic flower-juice on Demetrius’ eyes to make him reciprocate Helena’s affection, restoring the symmetry of the pair of pairs, while he himself will take the rest for Tytania. Soon after comes Demetrius fleeing Helena’s pursuit. Hermia and Lysander flee to the woods from her father’s order that she marry Demetrius. Thus he’ll be revenged, holding her affections captive until she deliver up the pageboy. Oberon sends Puck to fetch the juice of a rare flower, which, when dropped upon Tytania’s eyes, will make her fall in love with the first creature she sees. Tytania refuses to share the King’s bed until he should return the child. The nimble Puck announces their King Oberon and Queen Tytania, who have strained the bonds of Nature herself with a custody battle over a little changeling pageboy whose mother served the Queen. At twilight, Fairies prepare to deck the Athenian woods with dew.
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