The Funniest Midsummer Night's Dream

We went to the American Shakespeare Theater in Staunton, Virginia this weekend.  You should go!  It was excellent!  I have never enjoyed a Shakespeare comedy so much.

First of all it is in a replica of the Blackfriars Playhouse that Shakespeare actually used.  This was apparently his indoor theater.  Anyway, you step from the modern lobby into a Tudor style theater with a small stage and seats that go right up to the stage as well as two rows of balconies around the rectangle shape of the room.  They keep the lights on all during the performance and there are barely any props and no setting.  The play is solidly on the shoulders of the actors and these actors were amazing.  They didn't need lights or atmosphere.  They burst onto the stage with complete control and fluency.

Actually before the play, the actors are up on the balcony playing instruments and singing songs to entertain us while we wait for the beginning of the show.  They had a snack and drink cart right on the stage.  In fact some of the audience sat on the stage along the side walls.  They'd been forewarned they might be made part of the play.  What amazed me was somebody sat up there with their 5 year old daughter who was completely mesmerized the entire time!  And this play was very long.  It started at 7:30 and ended at 10:30 with just a 15 minute intermission (during which the actors came out and did vaudeville acts!)

Here's an illicit photo I took before the usher told me to stop.

The actors were all tremendous, they really were, but the guy who owned the play was the guy who played Nick Bottom.  He was pitch perfect!  The scene when they are acting out the play about Pyramus and Thisbe was done so well.  As B. said, as we were leaving the theater:  I've never laughed so hard for so long at a show.  The actor had the whole room completely in control.  I mean everyone was in uproarious laughter and then he'd get funnier!    And the laughter would be even more uproarious!  Now it was pretty slapstick and it did get a bit bawdy, but nothing too awful.  Well, maybe it did, but by that time I had tears streaming down my face and my stomach was starting to ache, so it didn't matter.

To tell you the truth, I like Shakespeare's comedies the least of his plays but this one was done so well.  

So I am really glad we did the overnight trip.  Staunton is a charming little town.  It is a college town because of Mary Baldwin College.  It has a small, quaint downtown area that has coffee shops, used bookstores, pizza places, music and antique stores.  The Catholic church of St. Francis of Assisi is right up near Mary Baldwin College and a beautiful old church that is apparently being restored as there was lots of scaffolding around it.  We went to the 5:00 Mass before the play and the priest was a charming old Irish man.

I'd love to go back again and see a tragedy or a history play.  Maybe next year for our 28th wedding anniversary!