REVIEW

MITCHELL SCHOOL OF DRAMA

“A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM"

Director/ Choreographer: RhonaMitchell

This production was part of the annual Aberdeen International Youth Festival, and although billed as Aberdeenshire Youth Theatre, the greater majority was made up of MSD youngsters who positively shone in this one off production.

Rhona Mitchell’s direction brought a really different twist to this Shakespeare classic, with a highly effective use of on stage video camera work with a large back projection screen-not forgetting the guest appearance by a certain North Today newscaster on film. I’m sure that Shakespeare never envisaged it, but the resulting Fly on the Wall  reporting, gave real impact to the part that media plays in the life of celebrities.

Chief amongst these were Dan Greavey as Theseus/Oberon, with a particularly commanding entrance on to stage accompanied by a well matched Pamela Barrie as Hippolyta;-both cheered on by the masses waiting outside the palace, beautifully caught on camera prior to the forthcoming nuptials.

Every facial expression was caught by the media, giving a real challenge to which all Principals rose beautifully.

Jonathon Milton scuttled throughout the production as a frenetic Puck, matched only by a group of brightly costumed Spirits, possessed of a gleeful pixie-like quality as they dashed around the stage.

Of the Players, special mention must be made of Ruth Ledingham, a wonderful over acting Bottom, and the rest of the Interlude players, all clad in St Trinians’ uniform and full of comedy-I couldn’t stop laughing at Claire Gauld’s Wall.

In her first leading role with the company, Tilly Armstrong revealed a fine sense of comic timing as Helena, like a lovelorn spaniel, wonderfully tearful and mournful and giving real depth to her character.(But to me she will always be a strawberry!!)

Geoff Greavey, NODA Scotland