A Midsummer Night's Dream

When even the great Christine Baranski gives a boring performance, you know a production is in deep trouble directorially.

This technically gorgeous staging works well when we're with the acting troupe preparing its version of "Pyramus and Thisbe." Those parts of the play are cleverly directed and beautifully performed. However, the rest of the plots - especially the one about the two pairs of young lovers - don't work at all, despite an extremely talented cast.

Legendary director James Lapine tried something different here, and the result is a decent but largely unengaging production that seems much longer than it actually is.

I was dissapointed in James Lapine's depiction of the fairies of the Athenian forest. Their costumes and acting was fun but in general, it was without the magic that continually glimmers through in Shakespeare's verse. With the exception of a few scenes i.e. Helena and Hermia's fight, the whole play lacked the humor it deserved. Finally, Bottom was miscast. He seemed like he was playing the comic character for children rather than for a discriminating audience. Only at the end when he sees Titania in the shadows does he achieve the complexity that the character deserves and that Kevin Kline delivered in the 1999 movie.

This is one production I would very much like to see become available on DVD. An excellent cast presents this classic in Central Park for a magical evening under the stars. Originally shown on A&E, it is a pure delight and whilst using only a minim of special effects, delivers a performance of a sort I think Shakespeare would much approve. The production is a bit over three hours if I remember correctly and of high enough caliber to be the central course for an evening. While others have remarked on the performance, I disagree and enjoyed them all. If you can find it, set aside some time and get away from it all .. your brain with thank you for it.!

where can I get a copy of this on VHS?! This is my absolute FAVORITE performance of this play! To be honest, I remember little of the video, since it's been 20 years since I've seen it. I was at least able to record an audio tape of it, however. But my college roommate and I watched it when it was on A&E and loved in particular the performances of Christine Baranski and the actress who played Hermia. They were both VERY expressive. In other performances of this play that I have seen, the actors usually sound as though they are merely reciting lines; there is little discernible connection between the players. Not so in this performance! I thought these talented actors delivered. They actually exchanged dialogue, making the play come alive in the way I believe it was intended to be performed. I also enjoyed Marcell Rosenblatt's portrayal of Puck. And if I'm not mistaken, I think Gary Coleman had a cameo as the foundling child. And don't get me started on the delicious, bare-chested performance of William Hurt, who looked rather buff, as I recall. (Hey! I liked his acting, too.)

I am an English teacher and use this version for its hilarious Pyramus and Thisbe segment. It is done perfectly and raucously, just as Shakespeare would have wanted! Bottom is excellent. The students always fall out - even those too cool to laugh! My VHS is almost completely deteriorated from use. Does ANYONE know where I can get another?? I like this version - it is indeed a bit dated and I find the Puck in this one REALLY annoying, but William Hurt, as others have pointed out, is appropriately otherworldly. Christine Baransky is also quite good in this. I think the fact that it's really outside in a forest adds to its magic.