Shakespeare's
classic fantasy tale of love, magic and comedy.
Cast
Theseus
Guy Bishop Hippolyta
Hazel Blenkinsop Egeus
Barry West Lysander
Dan Hawkins Demetrius
Phil Kohler Hermia
Sarah Lawes Helena
Ruth Bishop Peter
Quince Joseph Hughes Snug
Terry Clark Nick
Bottom John Staton Francis
Flute Paul West Tom
Snout Barry West Robin
Starveling Ruth West Oberon
Iain MacPherson Titania
Jill Mowlam Puck
Mike Crawshaw Peaseblossom
Karrie Shield Cobweb
Fiona MacPherson Moth
Teresa Coles McGee Mustardseed
Chris Squire
Crew
Producer
Cath Staton Co-producer
Brenda West Stage
Manager Christine Sutton Set
Design Christopher Sutton Set
Construction Members of the Group Lighting
Ian Squire Sound
Chris Pearson Props
Cath Staton & Brenda West Prompt
Hazel Galvin Make-up
Karen MacPherson Publicity
Joseph Hughes Tickets
Ken Beer & Hazel Galvin Front
of House/Kitchen Ruth West
For
theatre-buffs to the uninitiated, Cubbington Players' performance of A
Midsummer Night's Dream
was good fun, easy to understand and engaging.
A
village hall audience of all ages enjoyed the story of love,
jealousy, obsession, comedy and magic, with good use being made of
the stage space available, imaginative sets and costume and a real
community feel.
All
the favourites of a much-loved tale were in place and conveyed with
style beyond the company's meagre means.
The
part of Bottom, played with particular aplomb by John Staton, or any
of the Rude Mechanicals must be received with glee by any actor, and
the audience as a whole lapped them up.
It's
sometimes a difficult task to convey Shakespearean humour to a young
audience, but Cubbington saw one of those lovely occasions where
children's laughter brought knowing smiles from their grandparents -
and the reassertion that classic storytelling is timeless.
Other
performances of particular note, in what was a good production with
a few wobbles, came from Mike Crawshaw as Puck and all four lovers -
Dan Hawkins, Phil Kohler, Sarah Lawes and Ruth Bishop as Lysander,
Demetrius, Hermia and Helena. 4/5
Bottom
(John Staton) enjoys the attentions of Mustardseed (Chris Squire),
Titania (Jill Mowlam), Moth (Teresa Coles McGee) and Cobweb (Fiona MacPherson)
Lysander
(Dan Hawkins) and Hermia (Sarah Lawes)
Theseus,
Duke of Athens (Guy Bishop), with his betrothed, Hippolyta, Queen of
the Amazons (Hazel Blenkinsop)
The
mischievous Puck (Mike Crawshaw)
The
magical woodland folk: Titania (Jill Mowlam), Oberon (Iain
MacPherson), Moth (Teresa Coles McGee), Peaseblossom (Karrie Shield),
Cobweb (Fiona MacPherson) and Mustardseed (Chris Squire)
The
young lovers: Lysander (Dan Hawkins), Demetrius (Phil Kohler),
Helena (Ruth Bishop) and Hermia (Sarah Lawes)
The
Rude Mechanicals: (clockwise from left) Robin Starveling (Ruth
West), Bottom (John Staton), Peter Quince (Joseph Hughes), Francis
Flute (Paul West), Smug (Terry Clark) and Tom Snout (Barry West)
