A Midsummer’s Night Dream

Friday night: The Open Air Theatre Regents Park! The production? What else would you expect from a Shakespeare Company? A Midsummer’s Night Dream by Shakespeare. If you have never attended a production of this play, you should take yourself off straight away to one! It is probably one of the greatest English plays ever written. Jeff and I estimated that we have seen this play about four times in various places in NY and England. One of the great joys of living in Buffalo, NY was Saul Elkins summer productions in Delaware Park. However, The Open Air Theatre is a little gem. A great way to spend a warm summer evening. Jeff had booked our tickets on line for this production and I was surprised our tickets were the one I had actually printed out. No standing in line to exchange for official ones! I liked that.

The Open Air Theatre was established in 1932 in a lovely corner of Regent’s Park inner circle. Jeff and I arrived (a bit late!) to theatre patrons picnicking on the lawn, people hovering near the bar (The theatre claims to have one of the longest bars in any theatre in London - stretching the entire length of the seating.) and the smell of BBQ. We had a quick bite to eat (not that great!) and a drink before we took our seats.

The production was very entertaining, even though the seats were a bit uncomfortable. The set is a mock-Greek amphitheatre and was used to great effect with fairies draping themselves here and there. I won’t bore you with the familiar plot but I think this is one of the best Pyramus (Ian Talbot) & Thisbes I've ever witnessed. Thisbe death scene was hilarious. The costumes were well done and added much to the hilarity of this play within a play! Lastly, Hattie Ladbury was a refreshing Helena. She was everything Helena should be – lovesick and goofy!

So there it is, London in the summer (OK, well almost summer!), a great venue, wine and laughter. Life doesn’t get much better that that!