Roy Berko
GLT’S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM will delight those who enjoy unbridled farce and mod language, while Shakespeare purists will rue the day they saw this “reimagined,” Bard-light edition. Me? I started out on the side of the purist’s and ended up an advocate of the modernists. Go…see…enjoy (maybe!)
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.
Howard Gollop
Of course it's hard to say where occasional innocent modern vernacular clarity becomes dramaturgy desecration. Apparently the former is the intent of a new nation-wide enterprise called Play on Shakespeare, which produces Bard-lite entries in live theater and podcast form. The result of the latter in Great Lakes collaboration may be due to the careless abandon of Sara Bruner, tagged to become Great Lakes Theater's new artistic director. Under her direction, there doesn't seem to be any stroke too broad, mugging too sustained or character-audience interaction too intrusive that would compel her to take a breath and ask her cast, "You think this is a bit much?"
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.
Mark Horning
This is truly not your parent’s (or for that matter your grandparent’s) Shakespeare. This is a madcap comic farce of the highest degree that will have you rolling in the aisles. Pay close attention to all the little “modern” references and nuances. Well worth the ticket...go see this work.
To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.
Chris Howey
There is plenty of laughter generated in this new Dream. Genuine, hearty belly laughs. But they aren't laughing at the gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) wit of Shakespeare and his verbal constructions which, while daunting at times, can also please the mind and soul. They're laughing at actors beating each other with colorful pool noodles as they climb and romp on the jungle gym set and adopt various funny character voices, some borrowed from SNL, to squeeze just one more easy cackle from the patrons.
To see a full review of this show, read Chris Howey's Review here.
Laura Kennelly
Director Sara Bruner and her excellent accomplices (cast and crew all) wove soap opera (love/hate relationships) with comic farce (adventures in the woods) to create a refreshing romp into a world that never was.
Great Lakes chose a new take on Shakespeare’s classic, this one translated by Jeff Whitty (who wrote Avenue Q). Whitty’s version neither mangles the original nor turns it into a word circus. The result? Raucous laughs.
To see a full review of this show go here or read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.
Dr.Yuko Kurahashi
Directed by Great Lakes Theater’s new artistic director, Sara Bruner, the production uses the modern translation/adaptation done by Jeff Whitty in partnership with Play on Shakespeare, adapting Shakespeare’s work so that the audience can better understand the language “with so many bubbles” and the characters’ confusing relationships.
To see a full review of this, go to Yuko's Playshakespeare site here
