Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Wayward Theatre Company

ON Wednesday afternoon, we ran a piece on a new running group based out of Newhall. The thing we liked about them was their Gen Z vibe.

This comes from an editor who ran his first race in 1971.

Then he went down to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Victoria Hall Theatre. Again, he read this in Mrs Pieris’ O Level English class in 1976. Never grabbed him then (Othello, Troilus and Cressida yes….).

But what he liked about Wayward Theatre last year was what he liked now….vibe.

The play consists of several interconnecting plots, connected by a celebration of the wedding of Duke Theseus of Athens and Amazon queen Hippolyta.

Wayward have given it a 70s vibe. The backdrop in the programme refers to Stonewall and Gay Liberation. The modern context is that up the road from Victoria Hall is a library where all promotion of Pride Month has been removed at the behest of the now Reform-led Essex County Council.

To quote The Dame: To be insulted by these fascists. It’s so degrading.

What we liked about that for all its freshness and ingenuity, it was a consummately professional production. So well done to co-directors, Jess Keilty and Erin Langer. This was really tight, not a line out of place and superbly choreographed. There was a wonderful symmetry and balance to this production.

Secondly, it..was..funny. This reviewer laughed a lot and the audience laughed a lot too. There can be a tendency for people to “do” Shakespeare and take all the joy and laughter out. Not here.

And another thing. Whereas some Shakespeare performances can be somewhat aloof and remote. This was there for the audience. They engaged the audience, interacted and even sat with them.

Once again, each actor carved out their role. Jordyn Linklater is one of Harlow’s most versatile actors. Dependable is damning with faint praise. A vital fulcrum for any production. Even as Oberon in gold lame.

Poppy Evans is a classy actress and as Titania had real stage presence. Poppy commands a stage and brought real character to the role. And a great seventies dancer.

There is always a chance of a scene stealer and that came with Jayda Linklater as Puck. She was quintessentially puckish but made the role her own. Again, some actors can be a bit dialled in with this role but not Jayda. We are inclined to think her “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” was the highlight!

Like last year, this was such a strong repertory theatre group. They are greatly aided by Dolleen Howlett’s presence. Dolleen brings all her experience to be a vital pivot in the group.

Hats off to Alfi Howard. He had just finished four nights with Moot House and has come straight into Shakespeare. Again, a very dependable and versatile actor.

Three of the male actors were so strong here and made their role, their own. Jack Fox as Helainus was immense. He was like George Michael doing Shakespeare. He just got the levels right as he went looking for fast love (sorry-Ed). But again he commanded the stage.

If we are doing comparisons, then Danny Middleton’s Bottom was like a comedic Sam Rockwell. Again, Bottom is quite easy to do but doing it well is a completely different matter. Jack was also a great foil. He really grew into his role and was very humorous in the later woodland scenes.

Finally, Heather Campbell-Ferguson as Hermin and Nyah Henderson was Lysander were a wonderful partnership. They really sparked off each other.

You also appreciated the professionalism and expertise of actors such as Heather and Nyah.

Well done to the Creative Crew. The set was simple but effective however the use of the whole threatre including the bar area made t very immersive.

It was also good to see a Pride stall there. Thank you to Leigh Murphy and her team at Harlow Pride.

They say the definition of soul music is that it reaches into the soul of the audience. This was like soul Shakespeare. These young, professional actors are there for us, there to entertain us.

There was a lot to be PROUD of this performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Well done.

We look forward to their The Importance of Being Earnest in September.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues until Saturday.

https://www.ticketsource.com/wayward-theatre-company