The summer wouldn’t be complete without a season of Shakespeare in High Park from Canadian Stage! This is their 40th season, and the 10th time in those 40 years where A Midsummer Night’s Dream has taken centre stage. This year’s production, directed by Jamie Robinson, keeps the tradition vibrantly alive. Featuring an impressive cast and spellbinding design, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a magical way to spend a midsummer’s evening with the whole family.

The only hiccup to this time-honoured summer tradition is, of course, the weather. I attended opening night which was cancelled before the show even began, and then again on August 3rd, which unfortunately also got rained out with about 15 minutes left of the show. That being said, both cancellations were absolutely necessary, as both evenings had rainstorms with lightning which could have been catastrophic. Canadian Stage does a brilliant job of ensuring that everyone gets a voucher and/or a follow up email to provide free tickets to each audience member for an upcoming performance. Their professionalism in these situations is exceptional and while it’s an unfortunate circumstance, it’s certainly one that they’re prepared for.

Jackie Chau and Logan Raju Cracknell have created a dynamic design through the costumes, set, and lighting. They create such a clear juxtaposition between the rude mechanicals and the royal/fairy courts. The stand out for me is the use of LEDs to make stunning props and costumes. I immediately asked my partner for a robe like Titania’s, and I certainly wouldn’t mind one of the glowing umbrellas either! They add an element of delight and surprise to the performance. I love how as the sun goes down, the lighting gets all the more impressive, as we can see how the beautiful stained-glass doors and windows play in the light. The only element of the design I didn’t fully understand was all of the garbage around the stage; I know that at the beginning Steven Hao talks about the ecological message behind the show, but at times I felt that the bags were just being moved or used to give the actors something to do, rather than having a meaningful impact on the scene itself. I would have rather taken in the full splendour of the set on its own, and had the trash removed as the show went on.

Shakespeare’s comedies often include music, and it’s wonderful to see where companies enhance those moments or add music of their own. There are a few moments in this production where characters sing rather than speak their lines and I think it adds a great element of fun to show! Sound designer and composer Richard Feren’s work on this production was delightful and enhanced the ambiance of the story.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has a wonderful cast bringing life to these well-beloved characters. Steven Hao’s Puck is everything I adore about the role; loveable, mischievous, and lively, Hao delivers an excellent performance. His physical comedy is also on point, making us laugh at all the right moments. Megan Legesse gives a fantastic performance as Helena; her valley-girl accent when she’s making fun of Hermia and Lysander’s love is too funny and makes her even more relatable. Jordyn Nasato gives a fittingly fierce performance as Hermia. Her physicality is amazing and heightens the comedic moments she has perfectly. Ryan G. Hinds is absolutely charming as Peter Quince. He commands the stage like no other in this cast and brings light and joy to every scene he inhabits. Special mention to Aaron Willis, whose perfectly timed hee-haws kept me laughing all evening. The whole cast creates such an enchanting world for us to experience, and keeps us in their spell long after we’ve left the theatre.

There is something sublime about sitting outside to watch Shakespeare, and it is truly an experience for the whole family. My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed bringing down a picnic and relaxing in the amphitheatre before the performance began. Someone behind me remarked that it’s like going to a giant community picnic and it really is; eating and talking and watching theatre together creates a fantastic community. A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs until September 3rd at the High Park Amphitheatre. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.canadianstage.com/shows-events/season/a-midsummer-nights-dream

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Cover photo of the Cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Dahlia Katz.