Review: Secret Shakespeare Version of A Midsummer Night's Dream

All photos by Nancy Sasso Janis

What do 5 Pucks, 3 Oberons, 4 Titanias and 3 Bottoms have in common?!

Winsted, CT - Desultory Theatre Club presented their premiere performance of ‘A Secret Shakespeare Version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Whiting Mills in Winsted on Friday. The project was made possible with the support of a Regional Initiative Grant, a program of the CT Office of the Arts/DECD, which is administered by the NW CT Arts Council. The ‘Secret’ version of the Shakespeare comedy of three worlds stars Elmwood Productions, Backyard Theatre Ensemble, Sova Theater and Shipwreck Theatre Company.

How can one work of Shakespeare be presented by five theatre companies without chaos ensuing? Well, if you are Artistic Director and Production Manager Keith Paul, you basically take over for the weekend the massive Whiting Mills, an old mill converted into artisan spaces, and you have the audience move from space to space for the various scenes of the two acts. The audience members are limited to a manageable number and provided two tour guides to usher them throughout the mill to view the cohesive scenes starring different casts.

One cast of puppets by Elmwood Productions popped up on two different indoor screens in well-produced videos, while another group of giant puppets mixed with smaller rod puppets performed by Sova Theater were presented in an outdoor grassy courtyard. The remaining troupes of human actors included the new ensemble of the college-aged Shipwreck Theatre Company in their premiere production, as well as the established Backyard Theatre Ensemble under the direction of Lucia Dressel to open and close the performance. The Desultory Theatre Club partnered with Backyard for the hysterical Mechanicals performance, where Mr. Paul co-directed the scene.

The various groups managed to maintain the flow of the two acts quite nicely, despite the audience settling into the spaces minutes before the performances began. Kudos to stage managers Sarah Mitchell and Claire Gaudette and tech managers Caitlin Barra and Jameson Willey on a job well done in a production that gave a new definition to the term “in repertory.”

The first and last act of the two hour play took place in a large corner of the mill/parking area with some stage lighting (only needed for the final act at the first Friday performance) and flowerpots on the window sills. The actors dressed in relatively modern dress with accents of Elizabethan flair and followed the direction of Ms. Dressel to bring out the best of their scenes. Ryan Wantroba did well as the Duke Theseus and Abby Lund was luminous as the regal Hippolyta. Dina Addorisio played the father Egeus and Pyramus in the play within the play in the final act.

Tina Parziale was the lovely Hermia and Thisbe in a blonde wig that took on a life of its own. Chet Ostroski brought out the comedy as the lover Demetrius and Daniel Dressel took on Lysander, as well as Peter Quince and the lion. Jennifer Dressel was the taller mortal Helena and cracked me up as the (chink in the) wall. The terrific Erin Shaughnessy scored the great small role of the Philostrate and covered Puck at the end, while Kailee Ostroski cried as Moonshine from an upper window.

The three scenes covered by Elmwood Productions were directed by Rick Passmore and featured a mix of foam faced puppets and small classic “mitten” puppets. This group were in charge of the comical Mechanicals, the group of actors rehearsing a performance for the duke, with a bit of Titania and her fairies thrown in. Puppeteers included Jon Bristol, Rick Corbo, Peter Lucca, Rick Passmore, Alex Sims, Johnnie Sojive, Mike Finland, Cassie M., and Katie Scenic.

Moving on to the impressive fairy scene by the Sova Dance and Puppet Theatre directed by Adelka Polak...just wow! Performers included Robin McCahill, Adelka Polak, Cynthia Rauschert, Blythe Serrano, Tim Walsh and James Wilding. Justin Perlman was the giant puppet designer and when I say giant, I mean a rod puppet that required the puppeteer to stand on stilts. This part of the production included movement, rod puppetry, masks, and music in a well-coordinated scene. I loved the use of natural materials on many of the puppet creations.

The Shipwreck Theatre Company section took place in a forest set up in a large open space of the mill hung with vines. The recent graduates of Muhlenberg College included William Bourke as Demetrius, Patrick Moore as Lysander, Max Keane as the mischevious Puck, Alan Mendez as Oberon, Nolan Rogers as Hermia and Liv Amundsen as Helena. Guilford’s Ashley Malafronte directed.

Finally, I must recognize the all-too-brief contribution of The Desultory Theatre Club at the beginning of act 4 that I could not photograph. Jess Braccia was the besotted Titania, Taylor Jasmine was Mustardseed and Claire Gaudette played Peaseblossom. Madelyn Colasanto was Cobweb, David Macharelli was Oberon and Kailee Ostroski was Puck. The always memorable Josh Newey played Bottom before and after he is transformed into a donkey. The best part of this section of the play was the interactive staging, as the actors performed in front of, behind and through the standing audience. It was so very up close and personal without being uncomfortable.

And those snacks? Everything I tried was fabulous. The John Brownies by First Act Bakery were sinfully rich and I enjoyed the Caprese towers of fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes with a drizzle of balsamic and the puff pastry snails from BMack’s Snack Attack. There was fresh buttered popcorn in purple paper bags for the longest film and the Nutella Knots from Good Company Coffee House were yummy. The noshing ended with an offering from AmandaBakes of double chocolate bourbon cookies, but I chose to try the frosted raspberry brownies because I can’t resist chocolate.

I was impressed with the overall conception of this unique production and loved getting to troupe through the beautiful venue to experience the work of the various acting troupes. I wished that there had been signs indicating where to park and where to check in; an email I didn't read in time would have helped of course. Kudos to Mr. Paul and the fearless actors for taking it all on and truly pulling it off.

Tickets are $20.00. Due to the special nature of this event, limited tickets are available; ordering tickets in advance is strongly recommended since tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at: Ticket link - https://ssmidsummer.eventbrite.com/

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417