"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by New York Classical Theatre

It's the 17th season for the wonderful New York Classical theatre: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (already ended) and currently ongoing "The Winter's Tale" (in Battery Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park). I attended a couple of performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side. This beautifully-landscaped, multi-level park became the perfect "stage" for the panoramic theater, where the audiences follow actors from scene to scene in the glow of sunset and fireflies. Directing was brilliant-with a couple of unexpected and awesome jokes that bring Shakespeare to the 21st century. And actors - all powerhouses, all magnetic - they are what draws me back to see each new play.

Here are my reportage "snapshots" of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” 

“So we grew together like to a double cherry, seeming parted, but yet an union in partition, two lovely berries molded on one stem.” 

“Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania.”

 “a sweet-face man; a proper man, 

as one shall see in a summer's day." 

“I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; 

I will roar you, as 'twere any nightingale.” 

 

“And the imperial votaress passed on,
In maiden meditation, fancy-free.
Yet marked I where the bolt of Cupid fell:
It fell upon a little western flower,
Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound,
And maidens call it Love-in-idleness.”

 “Are you sure/That we are awake? It seems to me/That yet we sleep, we dream”

 “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

 “Lord, what fools these mortals be!" 

“I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.”

 “And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays.”

 “The lunatic, the lover, and the poet, are of imagination all compact.”

...

My dear friends and amazing artists Margaret Hurst and Charlotte Noruzi drew one of the performances, too. I know Charlotte already shared her art - you can join me in admiration by following this link.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to see "The Winter's Tale". All you have to do is show up at 7pm - no tickets needed - and lose yourself in amazing acting, innovative directing, beautiful costumes and timeless Shakespearean wisdom.