'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Comes to Dedham, Quincy

By Joe Rich

Ever since I first heard the title A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I have been entranced by the mysterious and whimsical themes it conjures up. Having been a less-than-stellar student who always loved the summer months, the idea of a play entirely based on a forest filled with fairies, magic, beautiful girls, and hard-working pals who put on plays certainly fit my fancy.

My own experiences of summer, romance, and staying up all night with friends informed my belief in the beauty of this play, but I have to confess I hadn’t actually read it until this year. The language is so lyrical and wistful; it feels like a concept album from a band like Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd. The humor that I take from it is the absurdity of love, the insanity of infatuation. I think the play is at its funniest when the audience can see how patently foolish the lovers are in their pursuit of each other, and how obscenely mismatched Bottom and Titania are, especially in his asinine state. Love is truly blind, but in this play, it’s crippled and crazy too.

Puck was always a character who intrigued me because of his mischievous nature, so I auditioned using one of his monologues. I was surprised but pleasantly so when I was cast as Demetrius. I never saw myself as a romantic character; I generally gravitate to the dirtier, more self-absorbed villains… but then I realized Demetrius is one and the same. He is called many names throughout the story, among them are “serpent,” dog,” “disdainful youth” and even “worm.” I’ve seen several versions of the play but I don’t think any of these actors, as fine as they are, have played it as pompously or as creepy as I plan to.

I have seen our cast perform in rehearsals and I just love their portrayals of these age-old characters. I’m very excited to see what it all looks like and sounds like when pieced together: the rustics and their bumbling leader, the fairies and their mischief making Puck, the lovers and their foolish hearts, the Athenian royals and their summer wedding garments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have imagined you will. If not, then remember it’s just a dream, and it’s free.

Quincy Shows

Thu Jun 18 - 8 p.m. - Wollaston Congregational Church - 48 Winthrop Avenue - Quincy

Fri Jun 19 - 5 p.m. - Ruth Gordon Amphitheater - 1 Merrymount Way - Quincy

Sat Jun 20 - 5 p.m. - Ruth Gordon Amphitheater - 1 Merrymount Way - Quincy

Sun Jun 21 - 2 p.m. - Ruth Gordon Amphitheater - 1 Merrymount Way - Quincy

Dedham Shows

Thu Jun 25 - 8 p.m. - Church of the Good Shepherd - 62 Cedar Street - Dedham

Fri Jun 26 - 5 p.m. - Fairbanks House - 511 East Street - Dedham

Sat Jun 27 - 5 p.m. - Fairbanks House - 511 East Street - Dedham

Sun Jun 28 - 2 p.m. - Fairbanks House - 511 East Street - Dedham

http://www.dragonflytheater.net