A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Because of Eric Maxon’s illness during July his part was taken by Maurice Colbourne. In addition Doris Johnstone and Betty Ward took the part of Hippolyta for different performances.
Cast & Crew
Cast
Bottom | Baliol Holloway |
---|---|
Cobweb | Hilary Hopkins |
Demetrius | Ralph Truman |
Egeus | John H Moore |
Fairy | Gwendolen Evans |
Flute | Mark Turner |
Helena | Ethel Carrington |
Hermia | Dorothy Green |
Hippolyta | Doris Johnstone |
Hippolyta | Betty Ward |
Lysander | Maurice Colbourne |
Lysander | Eric Maxon |
Moth | Winnie Gibbon |
Mustardseed | Heather Hill |
Oberon | Frank Darch |
Peaseblossom | Phyllis Boyden |
Philostrate | Ernest Hare |
Puck | George Howe |
Quince | Arthur Phillips |
Snout | Alfred Harris |
Snug | Bertram Marsh-Dunn |
Starveling | Alan Edmiston |
Theseus | Oliver Crombie |
Titania | Maureen Shaw |
Crew | |
Arranger | Rosabel Watson |
Costume Designer | Tom Heslewood |
Director | W Bridges-Adams |
Music by | Felix Mendelssohn |
Playwright | William Shakespeare |
Set Designer | Walter Drury |
- Source: RSC Performance Database
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Play description
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a classic and much loved text by William Shakespeare. Written around the late 1500s, like most Shakespearean texts, A Midsummer Night’s Dream stands the test of time; the narrative is almost timeless and it is still performed regularly to this day.
The story is about four Athenian “lovers” who are all in love with one another; Hermia and Lysander are in love but Hermia’s farther, Egeus, wants her to marry Demetrius who also loves her. Left behind is poor Helena, who has a deep and unrequited love for Demetrius. As Hermia and Lysander run away together to a nearby forest on the eve of a big Athenian wedding between Theseus and Hippolyta. Demetrius follows the object of his affection, as does Helena.
Chaos ensues as the escaped lovers are set upon by magical forces dwelling in the woods. As a result of a magic potion, the lovers fall for different women.
Also affected by the mischevious woodland spirits are “the Mechanicals”, labourers from Athens who are practicing a play for the royal Athenian wedding.
Hilarity, sexuality and desire are key themes in this whimsical text by Shakespeare.
Observations
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