For the opening show of the 2011 outdoor season, HSC turned to an audience favorite and one of our favorite's - A Midsummer Night's Dream. Many productions of this popular play are produced on regular basis and in many different and sometimes strange settings. We decided that instead of putting a strange spin on a show that has seen its fair share of such interpretations, we decided to go back to basics and present the show in its Ancient Greek setting. We extended this interpretation by displaying in dance the different influences on the show: Greek myth - staging an opening battle with the Greeks and the Amazons with the capture and "engagement of Theseus and Hippolyta; Celtic folklore which the fairy element derives and a touch of Indian dance to whih the play continually refers for its exotic elements.
Egeus orders his daughter Hermia to marry Demetrius; she refuses because she and Lysander are in love. Her friend Helena is in love with Demetrius, who once loved her but now does not. Under the law of Athens, Duke Theseus gives Hermia four days to obey her father on pain of death or confinement to a nunnery. Hermia and Lysander escape this harsh law by running away to the woods. Demetrius pursues them there, with Helena pursing him. In the woods, Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of fairies, have quarrelled because Titania refuses to hand over an Indian changeling boy to be Oberon's page. Oberon instructs the mischievous Puck, Robin Goodfellow, to press the juice of a magic flower on Titania's eyes as she sleeps; it will make her fall in love with the first being she sees on waking. In an attempt to reconcile Demetrius and Helena, Oberon orders that juice should be put on his eyes whilst he is sleeping and she is near, but Robin mistakenly puts it on Lysander, who thus falls in love with Helena. She thinks she is being mocked. Love-juice is then placed on Demetrius' eyes in order to rectify the mistake, but the result is that he too falls for Helena. The boys fight over her and the girls quarrel. While Titania has been sleeping, a company of Athenian artisans under the leadership of Peter Quince has come to the wood to rehearse a play for the ensuing wedding festivities of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Robin puts an ass's head on Bottom the weaver and because of the love-juice Titania falls in love with him. Eventually all is restored to right and the artisans perform their comically tragic play of 'Pyramus and Thisbe'.
Hippolyta (Tzena Nicole) and her fellow Amazons from left (Leanne Mercadante, Amada LaPergola, and Taylor Marh perform a ritual dance before their battle with Theseus and his Athenians. Staib Park, Hackensack, NJ
A victorious Theseus (Jon Ciccarelli) seeks to woo and marry Hippolyta (Tzena Nicole) and begins plans for their wedding in the opening scene of the show Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Aegeus (Corey Whelihan), a leading Athenian citizen brings a case before Theseus that his daughter has been romanced by Lysander (Josh Fielden), a man who her father does not wish her to marry. He wishers her to marry Demetrius (Michael Hagins). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
After being told by Duke Theseus that she must either decide to marry Demetrius or become a uun, Hermia (Anna Wallace-Deering) decides to run away with Lysnader (Justi Fielden) to the woods outside Athens. Here they are interrupted by her friend Helena (Jessica Cermak) who is in love Demetrius. Helena and Demetrius later follow them to the woods. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
A group of laborers from Athens meet to rehears a play to present at Theseus wedding featt. Quince (Corey Whelihan) tries to had out parts to his fellow actors Snug (Taylor Marsh) and Starveling (Leanne Mercadante) but is constantly interrupted by the overbering Bottom (Reynaldo Piniela) who wants to play every role. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
The Changeling Boy (Taylor Marsh) encounters the merry wanderer of the night, Puck (Melissa Meli). Puck describes her role as a mischievous fairy but also that Queen Titania and King Oberon have been at war. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Titania (Tzena Nicole) and her fairies Peaseblosson (Leanne Mercadante), Musterseed (Amanda LaPergola) and Cobweb (Imran Sheikh) encounter Oberon and seek to protect the Changeling Boy (Taylor Marsh). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
After being refuted by Titania over his demand for the Changeling Boy, Oberon (Jon Ciccarelli) plots with Puck (Melissa Meli) to get revenge on his wife. Above he recounts the location of a special flower whose juice will make a person fall in love with the next thing they see. He commands Puck to fetch the flower. Stratord Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Helena (Jessica Cermak) tells Demetrius (Michael Hagins) of Hermia’s escape into the woods with Lysnader. Here she follows him and lets him know how much she “cares” about him. Oberon observes Helena’s desire and Demetrius refusal of her and then instructs Puck to anoint Demetrius eyes so he may fall in love with her.Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Oberon (Jon Ciccarelli) spreads the potion of the love flower on Titania (Tzena Nicole) in hopes that she will fall in love with some vile thing when she wakes up. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Puck mistakenly puts the love potion in the eyes of Lysander (Josh Fielden) who here falls in love with Helena (Jessica Cermak) and forgets Hermia. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
The would actors of Athens (from left Flute as Thisbe (Imran Sheikh) Snug (Taylor Marsh), Snout (Amanda LaPergola) and Bottom (Reynaldo Piniella) as Pyramus as wall, meet in the woods to rehearse their play of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Puck encounters the actors and doesn’t decides to join in the fun. She tranforms Bottom into a half man/half donkey creature. Above, the Titania (Tzena Nicole) under the love potion falls for the transformed Bottom (Reynaldo Piniella). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Titania orders her fairies to attend on Bottom (Reynaldo Piniella), here he is attended by the reluctant Peaseblossom (Leanne Mercadante) and Musterseed (Amada LaPergola). Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
Demetrius (Micahel Hagins) finally gets hit with the love potion and falls for Helena. Hermia (Anna Wallace-Deering) eventually finds the trio and wonders why he man Lysander (Josh Fielden) is refusing her. Here she thinks that Helena (Jessica Cermak) is responsible for turning Lysander away and tries fight with her. Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ
Oberon and Titania finally make and Bottom is transformed back and rejoins his acting friends. Here Bottom (Reynaldo Piniella) as Pyramus acts out his opening monologue before Theseus (Jon Ciccarelli) and Hippolyta (Tzena Nicole) at their wedding banquet. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
The lovers Thisbe (Imran Sheikh) and Pyramus (Reynaldo Piniella) speak through the Wall (Amanda LaPergola). during the presentation of the play at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. Stratford Library Amphitheater, Stratford, CT
