Holiday Highlights: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the park was the absolute highlight of our week.  We went on Thursday night, and the children loved it.  To everyone’s great delight we went again on Friday night.  In fact, the children even offered their piggy bank money!

Oberon and Titania arguing about the foundling

A Company of Fools presented the play as it should be presented: fun and relevant but still full of Shakespeare’s poetry and wisdom.  The six high-energy actors visibly enjoyed every moment—except, perhaps, when being soaked by balloons full of cold water (the love potion).  Puck was magnificent, innocently wreaking havoc and gleefully amazed at the results, cheerfully promising results in 40 minutes… “or it’s free!”   

Puck and Bottom

I love how the actors ran among the audience and involved them in the production.  Peter Quince assigned Miss 7 the part of the lion in the play the workmen were rehearsing.  That was overwhelming for her even though she did not have to do anything.  The second time we attended, he assigned Mr 15 the part of Thisbe. This involved reading several sentences out loud, and he did it!  In fact, he did it very well indeed, and I was so proud of him.  Peter Quince wasn’t pleased, however, and suggested he take the part of the back end of a lion. Oh well.

Peter Quince (back) and Bottom (front) Assigning Parts in the Play

Such torchlight performances have been highlights of our summers for many years now.  A Company of Fools does not usually emphasize Shakespeare’s questionable moments (although they are not ignored, either) and our family looks back on many fun-filled evenings. 

This summer’s production is almost finished, but if you’re ever in Ottawa in July, be sure to check out what the Fools are doing.

Disclosure:  I received no compensation from A Company of Fools in exchange for this review. 

Note:  All pictures are from A Company of Fools website.

To see what other families are up to, visit Canada Girl and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.