Con’s Score: 4 Flying Fairies
In this latest National Theatre Live productions, we’re taken into the pit of ‘the round’ of the Bridge Theatre for one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays. And director Nicholas Hytner has delivered a cracker.
It starts off rather dark and dour, as Theseus (Oliver Chris) – who has his wife to be, Hippolyta (Gwendoline Christie of Games of Thrones fame) in a glass box – delivers his edict that Hermia (Isis Hainsworth) must marry her fathers choice, Dimitri (Paul Adeyafa) on the penalty of death. But her lover Lysander (Kit Young) has a plan to head through the forest and take a boat to an island. They share their plan with Helen (Tessa Bonham Jones) who has the hots for Dimitri. She tells him so they all end up the forest where King Oberon and Queen Titania of the Fairy Kingdom (Chris and Christie) are having a spat, which they get tangled up in, thanks to the punky Puck (David Moorst). Meanwhile, a group of actors, led by the ebullient Bottom (Hammed Animashaun), meet to rehearse in the same forest and it all becomes even more entangled.
I hate giving away spoilers, but there’s an interesting interview with the director at the interval about a very interesting twist he’s made. Two key characters have their lines and positions switched. It’s taken the play from nasty misogyny into camp frivolity which means the end makes more sense. It’s very clever, especially when a donkey is involved. It works, it really does. The only times Hytner goes too far is when the star crossed lovers cross their hetero lines during the fight scene, but the audience is willing to go with it.
The costumes are excellent and the set is made up of rising, falling and flying beds. I’ve always been a sucker for singing athletic aerial fairies, cavorting on sheets, and this show has an excellent array. David Moorst as Puck is lithely impressive the way he delivers lines while going through routines.
All the actors are high quality, with Christie supplying the star power. She relishes her every line. Animashaun as Bottom also has a lot of fun. He goes so far over the top during the play – “Pyramus and Thisbe” – within this play they’ll need a search party to find him, but it’s enjoyable. Chris is limited until the twist and then unleashes his inner funster. If there’s one feature the whole cast share is their obvious enjoyment of the latitude they’re given.
This is classic theatre, with actors interacting with the audience and taking energy from them, because they’re so close and involved. It’s an infectious cycle. And there are enough modern quips to show they’re not taking themselves too seriously. They’re all having fun, right down to the aerial player with no dialogue scamming a drink from an audience member.
It felt a little long and indulgent at times, but William always knew how to milk and milk a joke. This production takes liberties and brings a much more modern touch to this play. It’s a joyful experience particularly for the audience.
Con Nats, On The Screen
Directed by: Nicholas Hytner.
Starring: Gwendoline Christie, Oliver Chris, David Moorst, Hammed Animashaun.
Release date: 9th November, 2019 (limited season)
Run time: 3 hours w/ interval
