Exceptionally well directed by the suberb Nicholas Hytner. this is an ambitious but delighful re-imagining with a plethora of swapped lines, and filmed beautifully for a NT Live audience. The production design is a delight, the costumes delightful, and the frenetic, musical pace highly memorable. There are some wonderful performances here. Oliver Chris is a National Theatre stalwart and his physical humor makes for a wonderful inhabiting of his role - such an underrated actor. Isis Hainsworth is a standout Hermia.
Animashaun and Christie are exceptional in such different ways - Animashaun is a bullish comedic riot who had our screening gasping for air in a hard to ignore performance that has you walking out thinking you've discovered a new star. Christie has terrific range and could just as easily have turned her re-imagined Titania/Hippolyta into an overzealous charicature, but instead she is commanding, cool, kind and mischievous in equal measure, a choice that gives creedence to the plays overall message but gives great space to her castmates to create a joyous ensemble that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Review of A Midsummer Night's Dream
