“Winterfall Theatre's revamped and multi-faceted version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a fascinating, in-your-face deconstruction …

 

Director Trent Baker's International Fellowship of Shakespeare's Globe and previous direction of As You Like It (Winterfall) is clear. His salute is calculated and comprehensible. The actors have been well directed by their Globe trained director. Each cast member is a powerhouse; put together, they're dynamite. and their three months of preparation can be seen.

 

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The set, cleverly constructed by Ashlee Hughes is minimalistic in the black box theatre employed. Clever sound and lighting design (by Rebecca Etchell) infuse the at times too-familiar play…

 

Lysander's (Wil Ridley) portrayal of the whipped, asthma-ridden lover left with the smaller bed is relatable; his want to share Hermia's (Michelle France) bed cleverly re-imagined an extra touch in this scenario. 

 

Similarly, Helena's (Chloe Reid) vicious pursuit of Demetrius (Jack Starkey-Gill) ups the antics, with her saucy shimmering and all-but-straddling him – a power-dynamic reversal in comparison to previous pious portrayals – that has the crowd in stitches.

 

Special mention must be made of Alex Duncan in the role of Bottom… effortlessly charming as the self-assured actor and ass. He meshes with the role, oozing talent in physical comedy and a natural affinity for Shakespeare's nuanced language…

 

Lily Fish as Puck is yet another one to watch. A sinister and yet strangely beguiling narrator and mischief maker, her physicality is murmured about in the crowd. The image of something a little batty, her outfit of too-large trousers and mussed hair, she never once loses that playful, animalistic, and somewhat tormented depiction of a usually male role. Tiny on stage, she nonetheless captures and is an omnipresent existence.

 

Jack Angwin as Flute/Mustardseed must be praised and is certainly a name to follow. 

 

Tim Wotherspoon (Egeus/Quince) carries off his dual roles; his nervous agitation as Quince, frequent popping on and off stage to correct lines or remedy horrendous moments in his wedding play, are subtle moments of humour that thrill.

 

Michelle France gave a thoroughly engaging performance… Chloe Reid (also thoroughly engaging) shows amazing propensity to shift from fiery rage to grief.

 

Lysander and Demetrius (Wil Ridley and Jack Starkey-Gill) dazzle in physical comedy and energy in their shift from spurned or heart-wrung lover to boisterous, comically flirtatious and overeager pursuers. Their raunchy and overblown displays of affection appear hilariously real… Each cast member is a powerhouse, put together, they’re dynamite…a riotous and riveting gem…” 

 

Vivien Mah, Australian Stage March 16th, 2011