ShakespeaRe-Told, Episode 4: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
2005: Mark Brozel

Theo and Polly have rented cabins at a rural amusement park/resort to celebrate the betrothal of their daughter Hermia to James; but Hermia doesn’t really want to marry James, and winds up running off into the night with another; the two fairies (still Titania and Oberon), with the help of Puck, stage manage their love issues in more or less the standard way, though with modernized language and situations. the whole is fairly predictable, but at least moderately entertaining.

The dimension of the original play that this particularly illuminates is the issue of the relationships of Theo and Polly, and that of Oberon and Titania. Theo and Oberon have several conversations out on the terrace, and come to realize some interesting things about their own lives. While the younger set follows the plot true to form, and the basic outline of the rest of the plot is predictably on target, there are nuances here that are at least interesting. It’s by no means a substitute for a real version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but there are things to be gathered from it.

Parents are cautioned for some language and implicit sexual situations.

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