Best Dream I have seen
Directed by Taylor Davis, Greenstage opened the in-person outdoor theater season in Volunteer Park with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, perhaps the best outdoor Shakespeare production I have seen in 30 years in Seattle.
Of all the plays in the cannon, some suitable for the outdoors and other not, Dream, is the most suitable. This production had creativity, a solid cast, which could all handle the complex language, as well as musical accompaniment on a Celtic harp by Molly Bauckham and Jesse Calixto on guitar.
Stand-outs in the cast were Jalyn Green, double cast as Peter Quince and Egeus, a control-freak of a father trying to marry off his daughter to a man she does not love. I may be wrong, but the 45th president seems to have inspired Green’s interpretation of the character. Bottom, played by Daniel Wood, was superb at all times and was truly hilarious as Pyramus in the play within the play.
One of its great strengths was that it took place, not in the amphitheater, but in a field in the park, with a natural backdrop of beautiful trees, and the weather co-operated. Costumer Julia Trimarco was able to hide the double/triple casting very well, and her simple yet expressive costuming was spot-on for this quasi contemporary interpretation. Of course a lot of the credit goes to Director Davis for making intelligent creative choices, which kept the audience engaged and entertained for 90 minutes!
I recommend this show to everyone, it was an historic event, the opening of in-person theater, after the pandemic, with such a finely crafted show.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Taylor Davis, Produced by Greenstage. Free admission. Touring Seattle Parks Until Aug. 14.
Performance Schedule
Fri, Jul 16 @ 7:00 pm – Lincoln Park
Sat, Jul 17 @ 7:00 pm – Lincoln Park
Sun, Jul 18 @ 3:00 pm – Lincoln Park
Fri, Jul 23 @ 7:00 pm – Magnuson Park Amphitheater
Sat, Jul 24 @ 7:00 pm – Magnuson Park Amphitheater
Sun, Jul 25 @ 3:00 pm – Magnuson Park Amphitheater
Fri, Jul 30 @ 7:00 pm – Seward Park
Sat, Jul 31 @ 7:00 pm – Seward Park
Sun, Aug 1 @ 3:00 pm – Seward Park
Fri, Aug 6 @ 7:00 pm – Fall City Park
Sat, Aug 7 @ 7:00 pm – Marvista Park
Sun, Aug 8 @ 3:00 pm – Magnuson Park Amphitheater
Fri, Aug 13 @ 7:00 pm – Volunteer Park
Sat, Aug 14 @ 7:00 pm – Volunteer Park
All details are subject to change