The Shawnigan Players summer series of outdoor theatre presentations at the Gem o’ the Isle at Cowichan Station continues with Shakespeare’s magical A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Alex Gallacher is both surprised and delighted to be directing this play this year.
“I actually chose it because of serendipity. Talking after last year’s As You Like It, two people asked, why don’t we do A Midsummer Night’s Dream? One was a very young person and one was a seasoned actor. I thought that was a sign that we should do this play,” he said.
Gallacher has performed in it twice before, as Oberon with the Bard at Brentwood, and as Lysander with the Shawnigan Players in 1992.
“But I had never looked at it as a director, and when I read it again, I realized how amazing this play really is. You see it far differently as a director; you see the possibilities. I didn’t expect to be doing it because I was thinking about Macbeth as the next one of Shakespeare’s plays I’d love to direct.
“But, I’m so happy it’s this one because it allows for an all-ages cast. We have children as young as five in the play. They’re the fairies. It’s great. We have teenagers as well. Then we have actors in their 20s and 30s and older, of course, all the way up to Bob Norris, who’s in his 80s. We’ve got a total of 30 in the cast,” Gallacher said.
The play may be the thing but the audience matters, too.
“This play is a famous one so we’re hoping that many people will come out and be charmed by it. And the setting [at the Gem o’ the Isle] is perfect; there’s so much in the play that refers to nature,” he said.
Shows are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4-6 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug 7 at 2 p.m. with the midsummer mayhem continuing Aug. 10-13, again at 7:30 p.m. nightly.
Tickets are available at Masons Store and Ten Old Books at a cost of $15 in advance and $20 at the gate.
Also, there is a family pass available at $35 in advance or $45 at the gate. Tickets can be reserved at advance price at shawniganplayers@gmail.com
In addition, the Players will present a free teaser performance of part of the play at The 39 Days of July’s CUPE stage at Charles Hoey Park starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 30.
Cast in love with Shakespeare, venue
Members of the cast were excited about the upcoming show as they worked through an outdoor rehearsal at the Gem o’ the Isle last week.
Laura Faulkner is playing Puck, the trickster.
“I love Puck. I’ve wanted to play Puck since I was about 14. I’m very pleased to have this role,” she said.
“The play itself is really fun to have here. It’s a really great environment to have a play in because you don’t have that sense of formality you sometimes have when you go to the theatre. There’s babies on blankets here, there’s horses, there’s chickens. On top of that just coming here to rehearse in the summer feels like vacation time.”
Faulkner said she’s been impressed at the quality of the cast for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“These actors all have very strong stage sense. It doesn’t take very much for them to notice and people will automatically move into the good places. It’s quite remarkable. It’s also part of the environment here. Everybody just feels very comfortable,” she said.
Bill Levity gets to play the hapless Bottom. “We get to do this show outdoors in the coolest location ever,” he said.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the orchard. Can you imagine when it gets to twilight and the lights come on? It’ll be magical,” Levity said.
Levity looks forward to playing his part.
“Bottom is one of my favourite roles because it’s made for a ham, Shakespeare’s over-actor, the guy who wants to do every role. Not that I’m a bit like that, of course,” he said, chuckling.
Award-winning actor Marinus Vesseur is the production’s Oberon.
“It’s particularly fun for me because Oberon is short of temper, which I love to play although my wife says: ‘That’s not at all like you.’”
Performing the summer show in the Gem o’ the Isle orchard is special for Vesseur.
“I always look forward to this now. This is the best thing that happens for me in the year. Being with all these young people is so much fun.
Bob Norris is playing Peter Quince, one of the Mechanicals in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
At 88, he’s a veteran actor, but also a veteran of these particular outdoor shows.
“I’ve just found out that I’m the only actor that’s been in every one of the plays at the farm. This is the fifth one. This is my favourite place for a play,” he said.
His own role is fun.
“I’m the leader of what is called the Mechanicals. We’re all just ordinary workmen; we have no idea what we’re doing but we’re going to put on this play for the duke and the duchess. It’s great fun.”
Young actor Connor Lachmanec gets to play Thisbe in the Mechicals’ production.
“I think this is a great play even though I’m still new to Shakespeare.”
Lachmanec said Shakespeare writes for everyone.
“That’s why everybody loves his plays, and always have loved them. He’s so smart and intellectuals love that but there are also those great bawdy moments. This play is great, too. People may wonder a bit about it, expecting something highbrow, but it’s really a hilarious comedy,” he said.
Jacob Dennison is playing Demetrius, one of the play’s young lovers.
“It’s great to be back in Shakespeare, and back at the farm. This is the best. Acting this here you can feel the magic,” he said.
He’s been away in Ontario but he’s been back about two months. This is Dennison’s third play with Gallacher directing.
“It just gets better each year,” he said.
