Last week the Hall was transformed beyond recognition into a pastoral fairyland for a new St. Clare’s production of William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. With a shortened running time of an hour, the play rattled along with relentless energy without sacrificing any of the plot’s twists and turns.
There were fantastic performances throughout: the ‘rude mechanicals’ showed an unerring instinct for slapstick comedy, in particular Madison Hall’s ebullient Bottom, Dominic Edmonds’ cross-dressing Flute and Kasia Myszkowska’s scene-stealing Snout.
Every bit as impressive were the performances of assistant directors Carlotta Missiroli and Eliza Cass. Carlotta played Titania with a vulnerability that was perhaps best expressed in her beautifully-sung aria, while Eliza effortlessly brought Shakespeare’s verse to life, making it instantly accessible to a modern international audience and giving the lovelorn Helena’s confusion genuine pathos.
The production was directed by Victoria Watson a, who spent countless hours in the theatre over recent weeks, composing original music and putting together a fabulous set and costumes. They and their assistants behind the scenes deserve the highest praise, as do the rest of the cast and crew, who have all worked tremendously hard to create such a memorable and colourful production.
