Reviews of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Audience Raves
"Such a talented cast, using so many skills — from physical comedy to interpretive dance to (obviously) Shakespearian verse with contemporary delivery. We were so impressed!"
"The play's the thing! In addition, great ushers, excellent cocktail, great set, good acting, good choreography, creative costumes. Loved the fact that the costumes defined the characters' gender rather than the physical attributes of the actors."
"I loved the inclusivity of casting as well. Each actor seemed perfectly suited for their role."
"The 4 lovers were great- brought new life to characters we’ve seen before, and clearly had built a group connection."
"The best “play within a play” section of MND I’ve seen."
Critic Reviews
"Underneath the spellbinding forest locale – designed by Peter Ksander – four lovers, a bumbling band of theater makers, and a troupe of fiendish fairies bring true magic to life." —Renegade PNW
"The last time I laughed this hard at a live performance was a year ago at the improvisational show Freestyle Love Supreme." —PDX Parent
"Portland Center Stage's fresh take on Shakespeare's comedy is a nimble, playful, genderfluid, and not at all didactic delight." —Oregon ArtsWatch
"It’s the perfect play to send patrons off into summer since the plot focuses on escaping the oppressions of the city by romping freely through an enchanted forest." —WilliametteWeek
In The News
“Sometimes, you do feel like you have to hide an aspect of yourself to acclimate and to assimilate. It feels really nice to be able to just walk in the building and know that wherever I’m at, there will be space held for me.” —Treasure Lunan in an interview with Oregon ArtsWatch
More about A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
Synopsis and Notes on A Midsummer Night's Dream
A little background information and a summary of the play. Contains spoilers!
A Most Lamentable Comedy: The Play-Within-a-Play
Although he may not have invented it, Shakespeare famously employed the "play-within-a-play" in several of his works. See how the Bard used this metatheatrical device in A Midsummer Night's Dream to both reference and parody a classical Ovidian myth.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Reading List
Calling all readers! Multnomah County Library put together a reading list inspired by our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Current & Upcoming
NASSIM
From Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour (creator of the Off-Broadway smash hit White Rabbit, Red Rabbit) comes an audacious new theatrical experiment, presented in collaboration with Boom Arts. Each night, a new, unrehearsed local performer joins the playwright on stage, while the script waits, unseen, in a sealed box... Touchingly autobiographical yet powerfully universal, NASSIM is a striking theatrical demonstration of how language can both divide and unite us.
Coriolanus
Shakespeare’s tragedy about the war hero Coriolanus and the fight between the elite and the deprived masses will be fueled by a dynamic female and non-binary ensemble with a muscular, movement-focused staging.
Improvisation Classes for Beginners
Whether you're looking to get more confident in social situations, think quicker on your feet, or get in touch with your imaginative side, these "one-off" improv classes will set you on the path to success!
Improv Comedy: Love, Shakespeare
Witness the Magic of Unscripted Shakespeare! Step into the offbeat world of Love, Shakespeare, where seasoned Portland comedians attempt something audacious: performing a fully improvised Elizabethan play based on your suggestions!
Piano Bar with Courtney Freed and David Saffert
Join us for this monthly event with local songstress Courtney Freed and Portland-based pianist David Saffert as they host a good old-fashioned PIANO BAR.
Clyde’s
In this delicious comedy, the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff at Clyde’s are on a journey to craft the perfect sandwich. These loveable characters with big dreams serve up a heartwarming story that’s good to the last bite!
Portland Center Stage is committed to identifying & interrupting instances of racism & all forms of oppression, through the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA).
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