A Midsummer Nights' Dream: The Bard Goes to the Playground

Every year in New York City/>/>, seemingly thousands of productions featuring "inventive" interpretations of Shakespeare's works pop up. Some are frankly painful in their attempts to shoehorn the Bard into various settings and eras, while others manage illuminate the familiar characters and stories in ingenious ways. The Pulse Ensemble production of "A Midsummer Nights' Dream", which took place in the summer air, on a Harlem/> riverside playground, was one of those magical perfect fits of setting and story.

The Pulse Ensemble has been creating inspired outdoor theatre since 1997. Produced as part of the Harlem Week Festival, "A Midsummer Nights' Dream" continues this tradition of environment-based re-imaginings, and in the process creates one hour, forty-five minute work that is mesmerizing for children while being entertaining for adults. Various styles of music have been interpolated into the script, which helps to keep the energy up for the younger audience members. Although the night breezes in the park caused some microphone problems, the clear evening sky over the flower-festooned urban playground (designed by Ruben Arana Downs) set a mood of child-like wonder.

But what is a stage without players? And playful players they are. The battling fairy royals, Oberon (played commandingly by Steve Lloyd) and Titania (the powerful and lovely Shirine Babb) are played as Caribbean/> deities, with Titanas' retainers played by local dancers ranging in age from 9 to adult. Rounding out the supernatural characters is the energetic BrIan Richardson as a malevolent blue devil of a Puck. The Mechanicals are a joy to watch, led by Michael Gilpin, who plays Nick Bottom as an endearing combination of the Cowardly Lion and a mechanic from Brooklyn/>, and gets a few chances to sing the goofy blues. Andre Stafford as Peter Quince is quite charming and charismatic. The bickering quartet mortal lovers are all solid actors as well, with Cornelius Bates and Nicole Bowman standing out as Lysander and Hermia.

This "Midsummer" was originally intended as part of a full summer workshop for children and teens, but this year funding proved inadequate. This is true shame. Lets' hope next year will see the Pulse Ensemble able to reach out to the community with creative productions like this one, and workshops as well.