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REVIEW:  Commonwealth Shakespeare Company vividly envisions a spirited ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ on Boston Common

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Summer love is alive and well in vivid color on Boston Common.

Featuring a strong cast of renowned local performers and vocalists, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company captures the look and vibrant color of love in William Shakespeare’s classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

With intricate direction by Steven Maler, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company rings in their thirtieth season with William Shakespeare’s classic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream for free live and in person through Sunday, August 9 on the Common in Boston, Massachusetts. Though Amy Rubin’s set is partially likened to a children’s playground, this night production is not for children.  The action is not limited to the stage, boasts valuable captions and runs 2 hours and 40 minutes with an intermission.  I witnessed the production on CSC’s ASL night on August 2.  Click here for more information and reservations.

De’Lon Grant* (Theseus) and Nora Eschenheimer* (Hippolyta). Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios.

It is not difficult to see why A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most performed and beloved plays.  It is everything but tragic and can be interpreted in a variety of ways featuring magic, mischief, romantic comedy, music, action and much more.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has multiple story lines, but the cast translates Shakespeare’s work with a lively affinity for the text while infusing improvisation and pop culture references along the way.  Part play within a play, part fantasy, and part comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream essentially explores love in all of its forms from unrequited to desire to true love to romantic comedy gone awry due to some mystical love potions.  Shakespeare’s witty dialogue is an intriguing reminder that his classic story lines translate seamlessly into a wide variety of contemporary scenarios.

Nora Eschenheimer* (Titania) and The Company of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is also the source of some of Shakespeare’s most famous reflections on love such as ‘True love does not see with the eyes, but the mind’ and ‘The course of true love never did run smooth.’  Scenic designer Amy Rubin also emblazons Shakespeare’s immortal words about mortals and fools into the very fabric of the production’s multi-tiered and industrial scaffold set.  Rubin certainly provides the wow factor in a heart shaped and layered set which is a cross between a playground and a night club complete with slide and ball pit as a glimmering disco ball hangs overhead.  Maximo Grano de Oro illuminates this wild landscape with active and multicolored glee as the flashing lighting pursues the actors to the beat of the production’s contemporary music. Costumers Brooke Stanton and Rachel Padula-Shufelt mix glimmering Athenian-inspired costumes with 80s and steam punk flair.  The ensembles range from refined and upscale in achromatic classic suits to splashy, florescent, glimmering, tinsel and feathered club wear which includes fringe jackets, cowboy boots, ornamental robes, fingerless studded gloves and bejeweled gold caps. The constantly playful and bold neon fairies seem pulled right out of a 80s night club in glowing ethereal wings and combat boots. Sound designer Ted Kearnan brings a contemporary vibe with a mix of original and popular upbeat rhythms built for comic relief as well as setting the scene.

Nick Cearley as Puck in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Photo by Nile Scott Studios

Coy, roguish and often lighthearted, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream establishes a world of status and fantasy featuring a cast of powerful and compelling characters often hysterically determined to fight for what they want and will do whatever it takes for a laugh demonstrated by Paul Melendy as slick and bombastic Nick Bottom from exacting accents to integrating a well placed Shrek reference.  Putting on a lovely Romanian accent, thick beaded necklace and large red glasses while wielding a ridiculous plastic sword, Karen MacDonald is delightfully unrecognizable as resourceful and charismatic Quince among a group of madcap and dedicated mechanicals including Brooks Reeves as a knitting Robin Starveling who offer more than their fair share of silly humor and bright ideas before the final curtain. 

Brooks Reeves (Robin Starveling), Michael Broadhurst* (Francis Flute), Paul Melendy* (Nick Bottom), Karen MacDonald* (Petra Quince), Alex Leondedis (Snug), and John Kuntz* (Snout). Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios.

Some of this robust cast takes on dual roles which impressively shows off their range.   Jaime José Hernández as love struck Lysander shares jubilant adoration and endearing chemistry with Meghan Carey as sweet Hermia, but also has a chance to explore another side of this character.  In spiked hair and glimmering Athenian gear, Nick Cearley keeps the mischief flowing as prankster Puck conspiring with De’Lon Grant who adds gravitas to Theseus and Oberon for a string of seemingly harmless pranks.

De’Lon Grant* (Oberon) and Nick Cearley* (Puck). Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios

Nora Eschenheimer takes on dual roles as sophisticated Hippolyta as well as commanding and seductive Titania. Carey is charming as headstrong Hermia while Annika Burley is comically relentless as crazy in love and wildly frustrated Helena going to arduous lengths to get what she wants. Burley’s Helena shares impetuous moments with Hernández as Lysander and Jack Greenberg as impulsive Demetrius navigated by carefully timed choreography.  Another highlight shows off Burely and Carey’s sharp comic wit during another confrontation when love goes awry. 

Annika Burley (Helena) with Jaime José Hernández* (Lysander) and Jack Greenberg*(Demetrius). Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios.

Though the production can be a bit lengthy, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a fun way to spend a summer evening under the stars.  This vivacious production continues live and in person through Sunday, August 9 on the Boston Common. Click here for more information and reservations.

REVIEW: The con is on as Moonbox Productions presents musical comedy ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

An odd couple and a lucrative bet….but if you think you know how this slippery musical comedy tango will end, there is much more here than meets the eye.

Directed skillfully by Allison Olivia Choat with absorbing music direction by Catherine Stornetta and upbeat yet spicy choreography by Brad Reinking, Moonbox Productions continues musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels live and in person at Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts through October 20.  This show has adult themes and runs approximately two hours and 15 min with one ten minute intermission.  It also boasts open captions that come in handy during the performance.  Click here for more information and for tickets.    

Matthew Zahnzinger, Shonna McEachern* and Phil Tayler in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
Photography by Molly Shoemaker

A remake of 1964’s Bedtime Story, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels hit the big screen in 1988 starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin before it became a popular Broadway musical comedy in 2004 garnering a number of Tony nominations including Norbert Leo Butz’s Tony Award-winning performance as Freddy.  In 2019, Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson starred in the film remake renamed The Hustle.

From Hawaiian shirts to stately formal wear in cheerful colors, some aspects of E. Rosser’s costume design is inspired by the 1988 film, but thankfully contemporarily updated from the film’s bulky 80s style clothing.

Taking place over one summer on the French Riviera, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels focuses on a group of conmen doing what they do best.  It has an odd coupling vibe with Matthew Zahnzinger as sophisticated master conman Lawrence with his co-conspirator André who encounters Phil Tayler as skilled yet uncouth novice Freddy.  Freddy is a small time conman who immediately admires Lawrence’s success and longs to learn the ropes.  When they both set their eyes on Shonna McEachern as mysterious Christine, the stakes are high and the con is on.

With simple staging on two floors by Peyton Taveres with portable props by Andrew Reynolds as well as an onstage band behind glass, Andrea Sala’s upscale multicolor lighting takes center stage and has a delightful mind of its own demonstrated by Zahnzinger’s Lawrence who drolly exclaims, ‘Breeding is important, but lighting is everything!’ 

Matthew Zahnzinger and Julius P. Williams III in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ Photography by Molly Shoemaker

Adorned in a three piece suit with a red carnation and suave ascot, Zahnzinger perfects a thick British accent and is the picture of refinement as Lawrence.  Charismatic, suave and boasting a crafty smirk, Zahnzinger shines as Lawrence and is more than game as this smooth world traveling con artist. Julius P. Williams III portrays Lawrence’s behind the scenes right hand man André.  Williams III is quite the schmoozer who is big on decorum and short on patience.  Lawrence and André’s conspiratorial tête-à-têtes and knowing glances make them an amusing comedy duo.  When Phil Tayler as younger, outspoken, unhinged and underhanded Freddy Benson enters the scene, the real excitement begins. 

Matthew Zahnzinger, Phil Tayler and Sophie Shaw in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
Photography by Molly Shoemaker

It is easy to see how seamlessly Dirty Rotten Scoundrels fits as a musical comedy and after watching the 1988 comedy film, the musical is tremendously more fun.  With sultry and exuberant choreography by Brad Reinking, this charming ensemble has as big of a personality as the distinct main cast.  From the two step to yodeling to even birdcage choreography which has to be seen to be believed, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels infuses these dance sequences in all the right places.

Tader Shipley and cast in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ Photography by Molly Shoemaker

Most of the women seem gullible and naïve with few exceptions including Tader Shipley as Jolene Oakes as a fabulous, cart wheeling southern belle in glittering gold cowboy boots.  Shipley’s over the top delivery as she headlines Oklahoma is an unforgettable treat.  Boasting soaring vocals, Shonna McEachern depicts the altruistic Christine and performs a lovely ballad with Tayler for Nothing is Too Wonderful to Be True.

Shonna McEachern* and company in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ Photography by Molly Shoemaker

Through David Yazbek’s lyrically clever music, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ catchy soundtrack often plays on words, especially demonstrated through Ruffhousen with Schüffhausen featuring a memorably comedic twist between Lawrence, Freddy, and Christine.  Like Zis, Like Zat is a coy duet featuring André and Christine English as wide eyed Muriel and the tongue twisting and captivating cha cha-inspired The More We Dance between Lawrence and Christine.  Phil Tayler as Freddy is at his avaricious best for Great Big Stuff!

Phil Tayler and company in ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
Photography by Molly Shoemaker

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is silly, sneaky and romantic with a brand of self aware humor that smoothly brings the audience in on the art of the con. It’s a lot of fun to be in on this hustle.

Moonbox Productions continues musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels live and in person at Arrow Street Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts through October 20.  Click here for more information and for tickets.