A Dreamy Finale to Another Season

This weekend is the last chance to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, which closes out the 2009-10 season for the theater. Those familiar with Shakespeare's tale of magic, mischief and mixed-up love are sure to enjoy this production. 

Having had the pleasure to previously perform and work with director Stephanie Coltrin, as well as play Midsummer characters Lysander and Demetrius in other productions, I was ready for another chance to dream at Wednesday night's show.

A Midsummer Night's Dream takes place in ancient Athens and follows three intertwined plot lines, starting with the desperate and farcical plight of four youths in a love quadrangle: Lysander (Brad Standley), Hermia (Michaelia Leigh), Demetrius (Cylan Brown) and Helena (Beth Moline).

The second plot line is that of a group of Athenian laborers, often referred to as "the mechanicals," preparing a play within a play. The third plot line involves a fairy king, Oberon (Douglas Bilitch), and queen, Titania (Suzanne Dean), fighting over who gets to keep an orphaned mortal boy. Sounds confusing, but it's all very clear on stage. 

Notable performances included Nicholas Mangiardo-Cooper as a comedic Bottom, a mechanical who stumbles between the human and fairy worlds; Dean, a regular at the playhouse, as Titania; and Bilitch who also plays the stately king Theseus in high contrast to his otherworldly and stylized interpretation of Oberon.

They all performed on a striking set by designer Christopher Beyries, who triumphed in building the mysterious realm of Shakespeare's creatures and forces. Clean, classical Greek architecture stood next to wild, organic and unruly shapes of the forest. Beyries also made excellent use of depth and levels, providing surprising places for magical characters to appear.

Ric Zimmerman's lighting enhanced the enchantment with colorful flashes and surprising effects. Kevin Goold's sound design also added to the supernatural atmosphere, with Danny Elfmanesque music cues of angelic choirs and whimsical melodies.

Through the setting, sound and costume, Shakespeare's plays are often transferred to a different time period. This production was no exception. Christa Armendariz's costume design contrasted formal Victorian-era style Athenians with the motley patchworks of colors and textures worn by the woodland characters.

Under the guidance of executive director and producer James A. Blackman III, this adaptation of the Shakespeare classic brings a personal touch of timeless art to the community.

A Midsummer Night's Dream will play Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. The last performance is Sunday at 2 p.m.