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Published on 03/17/1997 All articles from this issue

'Midsummer' is a technological treat

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By Charlotte Krepismann Jarmy

Special to the Town Crier

Theater review

TheatreWorks has another hit in its latest production, "Another Midsummer Night." This musical comedy rivals "Star Wars" in its visual and technological wizardry. Shakespeare's play acts as the inspiration when the two groups of characters from each story collide and turn a romantic night in Golden Gate Park into "Fairyland."

What starts as a lukewarm love affair between Dan (Bill Quinlan) and Heather (Elizabeth Ann Traub) and a first date for Larry (Nicholas Smith) and Helen (Chanelle Schaffer), erupts into chaos when Shakespeare's King Oberon (Michael Page), his Queen Titania (Livia Genese), Puck (Michael Edo Keane) and the four fairies wake up after 400 years.

Mischievous, gracefully soaring Puck creates trouble by sprinkling magical flower dust on Fairy King Oberon, who falls in love with a television image of Nicki Paton (Darlene Popovic), a wildly funny performance artist hoping for fame. What a hilarious mixup that is!

The fairies add to the confusion by causing the four young people to switch love objects as they race around the park, thoroughly lost and increasingly frantic. The comedy develops from all the misunderstandings, just as in the original "Midsummer Night's Dream." What makes the play so special is the wondrous set with sparkling diaphanous trees, high-flying fairies in lovely costumes, modern tricks of technology with television screens and stage sets that circle around and move sideways, up and down.

Romantic love songs narrate parts of the plot, but sometimes their lyrics get lost in the noise and frantic pace of the action. Special praise goes to the strong voices of Quinlan and Traub, as well as to many others in the cast.

Jeffrey Lundan, who wrote the music, is quoted in the playbill as saying, "The fairies get sucked into the modern world just as much as the modern folks get sucked into the fantasy ... The different worlds collide, and the music and dialogue reflect this - there is a cross-fertilization of the different styles."

TheatreWorks, with this play, becomes the third company to produce "Another Midsummer Night," which is expected to move to Broadway. Robert Kelley, director; Bruce McLeod, settings; John G. Rathman, lighting; and Ardith Ann Gray, costumes; deserve the highest praise for their artistry.

"Another Midsummer Night" runs through April 9 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. For tickets and times, call 903-6000.