Shakespeare's comedy of Fairies, Athenian Gentlefolk, rustic actors and the confusions that run around betweeen them has been an outdoor favourite for a while, with both Sydney and Melbourne hosting regular botanic garden productions every summer. So it's the perfect premiere show for the Q's new outside venue, and is given a production where the empahsis is very much on the fun and frothy side. Jordan Best assembles a cast of 21 to fill out the action and has the cast dashing around, in and out of the picnic-blanket-ready audience, with brisk and clear language to bring the crowd along with them.
There's a rich variety of performances, from Lanie Hart's imperious Oberon/Thesueus, well matched with Kate Harris' generous Titania/Hippolyta, to the quartet of lovers - Caitlin Baker's yearning Helena, Jack Shanahan's entitled shitbag Demetrius, Liv Boddington's sweet-natured-until-provoked Hermia and Isaiah Prichard's determined Lysander - to the rude mechanicals, led by Kayla Ciceran's assertive Quince, Jim Adamik's grandly loquacious Bottom, Callum Doherty's gentle Flute, Joshua James' moody Starveling, Zoe Ross' emphatic Snout and Sally Taylor's gently gleeful Snug, all tangled with Rachel Robertson's distinctly playful Puck.
In short it's a good summer frolic in the park (weather permitting) and well worth your time and your eyeballs.
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