A Midsummer Night’s Dream At Brighton Performing Art Centre – Adelaide Fringe Review

Brighton Performing Arts Centre – Brighton Theatre, Thu Feb 19 A Midsummer Night’s Dream marks Reverb Theatre Group’s third Fringe show having performed in 2013 and 2014 Fringe. Tonight’s show was adapted well by Ellie Heard so as to cut it down to a 90-minute show, although it did run a little over time, however, the slow lighting and sound cues added to the extra time taken tonight. Ellie’s director’s notes and the advertisement for this show advise that we are about to see a play as relevant at the time it was written as it is in the time this production is set, which is the ‘60s, and whilst this may be true, the setting of tonight’s play only gave a nod to the ‘60s era with the costumes of Hermia and Helena and the appearance of one lava lamp and ‘old school’ radio, which provided the characters the ability to turn on and off the musical soundtrack accompanying this show. Whilst the music was lovely – written by Jacob Whitelock and available for purchase in the foyer – in this case, it did not add to the play. If it had been a little more influenced by the ‘60s, it would have helped add to the atmosphere we are told this production is set. Full marks to the cast though, as they were able to slow their speech enough and have such a grasp of the language to present it in a way that would have anybody watching understand and enjoy the storyline, although this cast had to work hard to transport us to the different settings as for the majority of the time the audience had to imagine where we were due to the sparse set and props. I hope the cast enjoyed performing A Midsummer’s Night Dream as much as I enjoyed watching such a young cast ‘get it’ and I look forward to seeing what they each do next. Charissa McCluskey-Garcia A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues at Brighton Performing Arts Centre – Brighton Theatre until Sat Feb 21. Book at FringeTIX on 1300 261 255 or adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.