BWW Reviews: Synetic Theater's Popular A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM Returns

An enchanted forest with fairies, an amateur acting troupe, slapstick comedy, complicated romantic relationships, battles, acrobatic movement, and other precise choreography....yes, Synetic Theater's widely popular, award-winning wordless production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream has returned for a fifth engagement for a limited run. Under the direction of Paata Tsikurishvili (who adapted the piece from Shakespeare's story together with fight choreographer Ben Cunis), a wildly talented group of Synetic regulars bring the well-known story to life using virtually all of the tools in the company's expansive arsenal.

Tsikurishvili and Cunis' adaption plays up some of the intersecting plotlines in the Shakespearean classic more than others. This is where the adaption, in some ways, fails. Like in the original play, the world of the enchanted forest, inhabited by the mischievous and mysterious Puck (Alex Mills) as well as other fairies, bleeds into the world of an initially presumed-to-be-doomed royal wedding, and the world of a less-than-talented acting troupe. However, the latter plot point - Puck and his cohorts manipulating the actors to achieve a desired end-state - seems to receive the most focus even if may be the least interesting without Shakespeare's words being used.

It's initially funny to see some seemingly hopeless actors and a pianist (Konstantine Lortkipanidze) try to rehearse putting on a Shakespeare show, which, in this version gives Puck the idea that he can use them as his pawns. However, the crazy rehearsal situations are repeated so many times - brawls between the men, a pianist getting annoyed and bewildered at what he's seeing for example - that they quickly lose their magic and become very tedious and extraordinarily long. However, thanks to some wonderfully executed slapstick physical comedy - Vato Tsikurishvili and Irakli Kavsadze are standouts in this regard - the choices likely worked better than they would have with a lesser group of performers.

When the story focuses on the world of the fairies in the forest, however, Synetic's true assets are put to the best use. Irina Tsikurishvili's choreography in these scenes nearly flawlessly integrates classical dance movements and acrobatic movement in a way that is certainly enchanting with stunning visual appeal (particularly with the addition of Anastasia Rurikov Simes' colorful costumes). A talented ensemble of dancers does justice to it and perfectly blends solid technique with emotion. Lortkipanidze's music and Kavsadze's sound design also capture the magic of the fairies' world and complement the choreography nicely. Andrew F. Griffin's complex lighting design also brings color and texture to Simes' utilitarian but highly theatrical set that's comprised mostly of braided ropes.

While all of the actors demonstrate an enviable ability to play out Shakespeare's tale using only movement - and in many cases exaggerated facial expressions to demonstrate emotion - so that one doesn't necessarily miss Shakespeare's beautiful language most times (unless one is, of course, a purist), there is a need to point out the wonder that is Alex Mills as Puck.

His graceful athletic talent allows him to physically embody the mysterious creature at every moment whether he's swinging on a vine or disguising himself so that he's hidden among the woodland creatures. Even as he contorts his body into pretzel-like positions to carry out his plan or sits on a moon observing the action looking bemused at what he's created, he's in the moment and superbly charming and lovable. I've come to expect brilliance from Mills in every Synetic show due to his track record, but he deserves a lot of credit for keeping my interest with this show.

Running Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes with no intermission.

A Midsummer Night's Dream plays at Synetic Theater's space in Crystal City - 1800 South Bell Street in Arlington VA- through August 4, 2013. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 1-800-494-8497.

Photo: Courtesy of Synetic Theater's website.

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