When I told my friends that I’d be spending my Tuesday evening watching A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The cell and The Hive Theatre, I proudly thought to myself how sophisticated I sounded. Shakespeare? On a weeknight? How proud would my high school English teacher be of her prodigal student? Clearly, I am a highly cultured, perhaps even admirably intellectual, individual.
And as I walked down 23rd Street with my friend late Tuesday night, recalling moments of gold lame pants, a hilarious rendition of “I Will Survive”, and S&M paraphernalia from a fabulous three-hour production of our favorite Shakespeare comedy, it was confirmed that my taste is indeed very cultural. While a pill-popping Puck donning high top Converse inscribed with “Puck You” on the sides may not evoke images typical evening of Shakespeare, The cell and The Hive’s rendition totally hit the spot.
In a world where Lysander is a woman, Helena a flamboyant man, and ample cross-dressed characters fill the stage, director Matthew A.J. Gregory truly enhances Shakespeare’s text with a mélange of characters and scenes that truly reflect relevant cultural issues. Armed with iPhones, ripped jeans, and excellent comedic timing, Shakespeare’s characters harmoniously fit into our contemporary world, making me forget the play was written centuries ago. His humor is equipped to rouse a contemporary audience to laughter while still making modern day New Yorkers consider society’s struggles regarding gender and power.
Gregory explains, “I hope that our production will help, if even in the littlest of ways, to continue the debate around gay and human rights.” When Puck elatedly waves a rainbow flag over Lysander and Hermia’s reuniting, it is clear that the production most certainly does just that.
As Shakespeare wrote in Act I, “The course of true love never did run smooth,” a statement as true in 1590 as it is today. With lady drama almost worthy of The Real L Word, Gregory reinvents Shakespeare’s masterpiece in a novel and thought-provoking way (unlike a guilty pleasure reality show, but just as enjoyable). An audience of all ages laughed throughout the play as the ensemble pranced around the forest, which more resembled a gay disco, as Bottom acted outrageously in the duke’s play, and as all gender and power roles were shifted and reconsidered in a highly pertinent way.
While the hysterical romp occasionally borders a threatening campiness, the actors deliver a tasteful and meaningful production. Go-Go dancing is paralleled by cleverly inspired delivery of Shakespeare’s original dialogue, enhanced with silly accents and oddly developed characters which the Bard himself couldn’t have dreamed of. Dramatic monologues followed by the chugging of Bud Light, or a love scene centered around two cross-dressed, cross-casted characters, truly made the play as spectacular as it was.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a dream I never wanted to wake up from. Make sure to get tickets for July 20, 23, 28, 29 and 31 at 8pm or July 24 and 30 at 2pm at The Cell (338 West 23rd Street).
6 Comments | Posted on July 20, 2011 | Categories: Chelsea, Entertainment, Event-Related, From the Blog, Only in New York
This sounds hilarious! Thanks for the tix link.
What a terrible production. This ‘reviewer’ should get their head examined.
Andy- did you even see the play? It was magnificent!
This is awesome, and sounds hilarious! Great review- I can’t wait to check out the production! Keep up the awesome work!
Yeah, I saw it. Anyone see the Backstage review? Much more accurate. This “play” was a mess.