The setting was perfect . Under a cloudless sky on a balmy summer evening , I experienced my first open-air theatre performance , and I was enthralled . The Year 9 play was A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream , and it was a treat from start to finish .
Set by the side of the Global Study Centre on the Observatory lawn , the stage was etched out of nature and illuminated by fairy lights hanging in fruit and nut trees . A meadow of wildflowers running down the slope created an enchanted realm . I was already captivated before the cast danced through the audience and onto the stage with rustling dresses , laughter and piping music .
The whole performance was fun , with a circus theme running throughout . Oberon ( Evie Jansen ) was dressed as a circus ringmaster , resplendent in a red showman costume and black top hat and conducting an avid audience through the impish antics of the fairies . The trickery of Puck was magnified by three different actors ( Greta Wood , Eva Vesela and Fran Bevan ) playing the same role so that mischief was plentiful .
Titania ( Sophie Soldati ) and the fairies shimmered in gold and silver dresses and worshipped Bottom wholeheartedly . Bottom was brilliantly played by Paul Taylor , who wore the most fantastically designed donkey head – bristles and all , and brayed octaves .
Bottom and his fellow rude mechanicals were hilarious in their performance of ‘ Pyramus and Thisbe ’. I had tears rolling down my cheeks at their slapstick comedy , giant clown shoes and enactment of Wall ( by Snout , Orphée Patricot ). There was even a whoopee cushion thrown into the mix ! It was laugh-out-loud funny . The lovers – Helena , Hermia , Lysander and Demetrius ( Ruby Thomas , Collie Begg , Ed Brown and Lawrence Lingard ) – also delighted with their squabbles and mix-ups .
The evening flew by and as dusk fell and the lovers ’ quarrels were righted a sense of contentment filled the audience . It was a truly magical performance .
Charles Dunstan , Year 8
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