A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2012)
Produced by
Playwright: William Shakespeare
Director: Richard Rose
Venue
Run
June 26th, 2012 – September 2nd, 2012
Synopsis
In this production, director Richard Rose has given the play a unique Toronto twist, bringing it closer than ever to High Park today. Celebrations are planned to mark the marriage of the Duke Theseus to Hippolyta. A frustrated townsperson, Egeus, comes to Theseus for help — his daughter Hermia refuses to marry Demetrius because she is in love with Lysander. Theseus orders Hermia to obey her father but she and Lysander decide to escape together. They confide in their friend Helena and she, in love with Demetrius and hoping to win his heart, betrays their plan. That night, all four lovers sneak away into the forest — Hermia and Lysander together, with Helena and Demetrius following.
A group of amateur actors, led by Pierre Le Coing but dominated by the diva Bottom, go to the woods to rehearse The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe, which they will perform for the Duke’s wedding.
Oberon and Titania, fairy rulers of the forest, have been arguing. To spite Titania, Oberon uses the juice of a magic flower which makes her fall in love with the first creature she sees. This happens to be Bottom, whom jester Puck has bewitched, giving him the head of a donkey. Oberon tells Puck to use the juice on Demetrius so he will return Helena’s love, but Puck mistakenly bewitches Lysander instead and he falls in love with Helena. We watch the characters’ mishaps as they struggle their way out of and into the knots of love. (canadianstage.com)
Cast
| Dmitry Chepovetsky | Theseus / Oberon |
| John Cleland | Nick Bottom |
| Mark Crawford | Francis Filchenkov |
| John Dolan | Egeus |
| Gil Garratt | Puck / Philostrate |
| Sophia Kolinas | Hermia |
| Richard Lee | Tom Chow |
| Ali Momen | Demetrius |
| Tamara Podemski | Hippolyta / Titania |
| Eric Morin | Lysander |
| Pierre Simpson | Pierre le Coing |
| Sarah Sherman | Helena |
Creative Team
| William Shakespeare | Playwright |
| Richard Rose | Director |
| Karyn McCallum | Set Designer |
| Karyn McCallum | Costume Designer |
| Karyn McCallum | Prop Designer |
| James Rolfe | Composer |
| Jason Hand | Lighting Designer |
| Michael Laird | Sound Designer |
| Ker Wells | Assistant Director |
| John Stead | Fight Director |
Production
| Jennifer Roberts-Smith | Text Consultant |
| Sandy Plunkett | Stage Manager |
| Laura Baxter | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Dilara Aksak | Production Assistant |
| Dilara Aksak | Assistant Stage Manager |
| Christopher Whitlock | Production Assistant |
| Leana Mukhina | Wardrobe First Hand |
| Michael Legouffe | Head of Wardrobe |
| Ming Wong | Head of Wardrobe |
| Alex Vass | Props Builder |
| Vanessa Janiszewski | Props Builder |
| Karen Rodd | Props Builder |
