William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is revisited by director/choreographer James Fowler. This time, Open Fist Theatre Company‘s production is set in Athens, Georgia, circa 1855.
It’s the eve of the Civil War in the Black Belt and the cotton plantation is bursting with activity. That’s the scenario where Fowler’s reinterpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream takes place. The Antebellum South becomes the mystic forest where a group of slaves are the fairies and mechanicals, able to love, bewitch, and dream.
It is in that context that a relationship between Shakespeare’s European folklore and the traditions of the African slaves from the South can be perceived. Shakespeare’s fairies are invisible to humans just as Black slaves are practically invisible to their White owners. Also, the Greek theourgia (benevolent magic in the form of Oberon) is very similar to the combination of religion, magic, and witchcraft practiced by the Isangoma (an African healer popular in the slave communities). Just like the mechanicals in Athens Greece were laborers putting up a show for the royals, the Black mechanicals in Athens Georgia are also laborers preparing a play for the White owners of the plantation. The distinction of classes is evident in both renditions of the play.
Shakespeare’s deep understanding of the human condition makes it possible to overlay his plays on different eras. In this case, the story set in the South matches the circumstances and gives a new meaning to the characters, plots, and symbols of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Fowler did an excellent job in keeping the original script intact but changing the traditional expectations of the racial composition of the characters.
The excellent cast makes this production a true gem in the theatre scene. Michael A. Shepperd shows his phenomenal comedic skills playing the attention-seeker Bottom. Ann Marie Wilding is delightful playing a hopelessly devoted Helena. Sandra Kate Burck with her voice and physical comedy makes the audience laugh left and right playing Hermia. The mischievous Puck is played by a versatile Monazia Smith (In the Next Room, or the vibrator play). Phillip C. Curry shows off his polished experience playing Oberon; he is one of those actors whose voice makes him an imposing figure on stage.
The lighting (Gavan Wyrick, Lighting Design,(God of Carnage) was a fascinating palette of purples, teals, greens, blues, and pinks. Mylette Nora (Costume Design, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play) created an accurate depiction of the period. Jan Munroe (Scenic Design) and Stephanie Crothers (Scenic Artist) also contributed to re-create a dreamy and pastoral stage with the murals, paintings, and use of natural elements.
Despite the comedic nature of the play, the history of slavery in America makes this story an opportunity to reflect on how much we have advanced in terms of equality and how much our perceptions on race have changed or remained the same. The abolition of slavery—referenced in this production as British Abolitionist Peter Quince (Debba Rofheart)—is a painful remainder of the sufferings many people had to endure to give birth to a new nation. Midsummer is a play of symbols and Fowler added one more that is powerful and still triggers many emotions. Puck turns her back and shows the flogging marks. Are those open wounds, or are they scars? Is America moving backwards, in rehab, or fully recovered?
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Written by William Shakespeare. Directed by James Fowler. An Open Fist Theatre Company production. Martha Demson, artistic director. Actors performing on opening night: Devon Armstrong, Malik Bailey, Bryan Bertone, Sandra Kate Burck, Phillip C. Curry, Erica Mae Mcneal, Heather Mitchell, Debba Rofheart, Ash Saunders, Michael A. Shepperd, Monazia Smith, Azeem Vecchio, Alexander Wells, Ann Marie Wilding, Dylan Wittrock, and Syanne Green.
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.
Performances: July 2 – August 13
Fridays at 8 p.m.: July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, Aug. 5, Aug. 12
Saturdays at 8 p.m.: July 2 (Opening Night), July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13
Sundays at 7 p.m.: July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, Aug. 7
Tickets: www.openfist.org
