2017 Shakespeare in the Park — Page 5

Really didn't care for Midsummer at all. It felt like a huge leap in quality from everything I've seen in the park the past 4 years. Seemed like it was trying to appeal to non-play goers with how over the top it was and trying so hard to be entertaining. Felt like it had no theme whatsoever, just a lot of bright colors and cheesy jazz music.

The director has directed most of the past Public Works productions, which I've never seen but can imagine it's similar to this. It felt directed like cheap park Shakespeare you'd see in any other state in the country. Not the acting though, that was good for the most part. As over the top as Analeigh was I still enjoyed her. Liked Burstein too, but not as much as Max Casella in TFANA's midsummer, which was an amazing production, but I did like the lovers plot in this one better.

Hope this isn't a trend to dumb down Shakespeare in the park. I noticed more borough distribution and asking for zip codes on the standby line, which seems to point to something.

I would agree with Ant V---I was at the Delacourt in Tuesday with high hopes, but was very disappointed. As he said, the production seems to push the obvious, and for me, most of the acting seemed one note. Also, while the idea of casting Oberon and Titania as older adults, and having Titatnia's retinue entirely made up of senior citizens is an interesting one, it just seemed to sit there, there was no real connection to the rest of the characters. And why have Puck played as a middle aged, assertive  woman? Again, the choice seemed to be arbitrary. I don't remember ever seeing a Dream where Oberon and Titania were cast with actors of this age---I think it is a viable and interesting idea, but it has to be integrated into the rest of the play.