Review: Bling, Beats, and Bollywood in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Bring An End to the 20th Anniversary Celebration With a Bawdy Burst at Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival

Bling, beats, and Bollywood in "A Midsummer Nights Dream" bring an end to the 20th Anniversary Celebration with a bawdy burst at Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival.

In 1997, Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival produced its inaugural production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". 20 years later, the Festival concludes its celebratory season with the same production. However, this production of "...Midsummer..." is unlike any production that has ever been produced.

The 1997 production was rather traditional, while the 2006 production was set in the South, and the current 2016 production is set in a world reminiscent of the British Raj in India at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

In addition, many of the original 1997 company have returned to participate in this 20th anniversary production. In the '97 production Brett Elliott, who directs this current production, performed in the role of Lysander and in the 2006 production reprised his role and in a moment of theatre lore-making, proposed to his wife Jane (who was performing inthe role of Hermia); Performing in the role of Puck in "97, Jeff Wallach has been the Festival Choreographer for the past 15 years; Originally cast as Thisbe/Flute in the 1997 production, Marc Silver returns as Bottom; and a student at CLU and intern at KSF at the time of the inaugural production, Bruce Bui flew in from Tennessee to take on the position of Costume Designer.

In watching this production, one is brought to a magical place and transported to a world of yesteryear but with many of the issues that still affect our society today.

This production is timely, artistically stunning, masterfully directed, and acted by a stellar cast.

As the Fairy Contingency, Ty Mayberry (who also played the title role in "Henry V") makes an explosive and eye-catching Oberon. Matching him in wit and stage presence, Nawal Bengholam makes a very exotic Titania. In an extremely unique take that can only be seen to fully experience, Fight Choreographer Jason D. Rennie makes a striking Puck.

As the Lovers, Samantha Eggers (Helena) Angela Gulner (Hermia), Ross Helwig (Demetrius), and Seta Waininqolo (Lysander) provide much physical activity perfectly executed and split-second relationship changes carried out with crispness and subtle humor.

The Mechanicals (Hank Dugan, Mueen Jahan, Wyn Moreno, Robert Nairn, John Slade, and Marc Silver) provide a "how-to" in ensemble acting. Individually strong, but when together create a force of nature with whom the audience falls in love. Comic brilliance comes in with the "play-within-the-play" and a literal stopping of the play with thunderous applause and cheers from the audience after the Bollywood lip-synch dance is performed.

Michael Faulkner (Theseus) and Kavi Ladnier (Hippolyta) bring to life a relationship that is one of respect and mutual strength that is not often seen with these two characters but with these two actors, it is only natural.

Design elements are at top form as well. A romantically exotic set is designed by Erik D. Diaz; another element of romance and fantasy is created with lighting by Leigh Allen; both traditional and modern Indian choreography is created by Wallach and associates Pallavi Srinivasan and Mueen Jahan; props and set decoration by T. Theresa Scarano; another dynamic score by Christopher Hoag, and one of the finest costume designs by Bruce Bui.

There is not one weak link onstage. Director Elliott has thoroughly developed relationships within the groups and (with the cast) has made 3-dimensional characters with whom the audience falls in love, roots for, cheers for, and intently follows their stories over the 2 hours of this adventure on stage.

Performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" begin at 8 p.m. And run through July 31 in Kingsmen Park on the Thousand Oaks campus of California Lutheran University. The festival grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking and entertainment. General admission is $20 for adults and free for children under 18. Individual tickets are available at the door only. For lawn box reservations, visit kingsmenshakespeare.org or call 805-493-3452.

Photo Credit: Brian Stethem/Cal Lutheran

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