Hypnotic tale
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Dash Arts
Swan Theatre
7th June 2006
Many people feel insecure about new experiences, and watching Shakespeare performed in another language is a new thing for most. Particularly when you are told that there are not two languages being spoken, but seven, including English.
So at the start of A Midsummer Nights Dream, by Dash Arts, comprising an Indian company, there were a few apprehensive faces.
By the end of the performance, many of the audience exploded to their feet in a resounding 15-minute standing ovation.
This performance of Dream is incredible for its emotion, its depth of understanding (by both the cast and the audience listening to the languages), and its ability to transport you into a dreamlike world. It brought me to tears, not of sadness, but from sheer over emotion. It was like attending a wedding and being so happy for the new couple you have to cry.
The set appeared simple – a packed red dirt stage, a huge bamboo climbing wall upstage. The actors didn’t merely walk though the doorframe of this wall, they scaled down from the top (about 4 stories high), or threw themselves over the lower branches. Titania's dwelling was full of cloth ropes, which the spirit performers climbed and swung on with ease.
It was a physically charged production, sexual and romantic. Each gesture made by the actors had meaning, and all threw themselves (sometimes literally) into their roles with passion. There were some achingly beautiful dance sequences, including a hypnotic dance between the Fairie King and Queen – Oberon and Titania.
But to the language issue. I would say that a knowledge of the storyline would be an advantage – but I say that about any Shakespeare. The company managed to convey the sense and essence of the play without the audience understanding every single word. There is no question about it though, in my mind, Shakespeare sounds sexy in any language. The first time I heard Oberon (played regally by PR Jijoy) speak in his native language of Malayalam, I was transported to another world. Indeed, it was like being in a dream.
Haunting Indian music – played live, and exquisite and colourful costumes ably supported the dreamlike state.
The cast were brilliant, although for me the standout was Bottom, played by Joy Fernandes, a hilariously funny, robust man. All of the cast however, spoke their lines – in a mixture of English, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Hindi, Sinhala and Tamil – with such passion and enjoyment. They were having fun out there on stage.
Overall, a life changing production, easily the best Dream I’ve ever seen or expect to see for a while. One hopes that this show can be shown around the world for as many people as possible to experience it.
Dash Arts
Swan Theatre
7th June 2006
Many people feel insecure about new experiences, and watching Shakespeare performed in another language is a new thing for most. Particularly when you are told that there are not two languages being spoken, but seven, including English.
So at the start of A Midsummer Nights Dream, by Dash Arts, comprising an Indian company, there were a few apprehensive faces.
By the end of the performance, many of the audience exploded to their feet in a resounding 15-minute standing ovation.
This performance of Dream is incredible for its emotion, its depth of understanding (by both the cast and the audience listening to the languages), and its ability to transport you into a dreamlike world. It brought me to tears, not of sadness, but from sheer over emotion. It was like attending a wedding and being so happy for the new couple you have to cry.
The set appeared simple – a packed red dirt stage, a huge bamboo climbing wall upstage. The actors didn’t merely walk though the doorframe of this wall, they scaled down from the top (about 4 stories high), or threw themselves over the lower branches. Titania's dwelling was full of cloth ropes, which the spirit performers climbed and swung on with ease.
It was a physically charged production, sexual and romantic. Each gesture made by the actors had meaning, and all threw themselves (sometimes literally) into their roles with passion. There were some achingly beautiful dance sequences, including a hypnotic dance between the Fairie King and Queen – Oberon and Titania.
But to the language issue. I would say that a knowledge of the storyline would be an advantage – but I say that about any Shakespeare. The company managed to convey the sense and essence of the play without the audience understanding every single word. There is no question about it though, in my mind, Shakespeare sounds sexy in any language. The first time I heard Oberon (played regally by PR Jijoy) speak in his native language of Malayalam, I was transported to another world. Indeed, it was like being in a dream.
Haunting Indian music – played live, and exquisite and colourful costumes ably supported the dreamlike state.
The cast were brilliant, although for me the standout was Bottom, played by Joy Fernandes, a hilariously funny, robust man. All of the cast however, spoke their lines – in a mixture of English, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Hindi, Sinhala and Tamil – with such passion and enjoyment. They were having fun out there on stage.
Overall, a life changing production, easily the best Dream I’ve ever seen or expect to see for a while. One hopes that this show can be shown around the world for as many people as possible to experience it.
posted by Anna at 2:58 pm
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