Rain or Shine excel with Dream at Moffats

The front lawn again played host this summer to The Rain or Shine Theatre Company with a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by OM James Reynard.

Printed here is the review from the Kinlet Newsletter, printed with permission of the editors.

“Shall we their fond pageant see?
Lord, what fools these mortals be!” 

After a period of hot glorious weather, the question on everyone’s mind this Friday evening was would it ‘Rain or Shine’. Luckily after a few spots of rain from dark and threatening grey clouds, the skies cleared just like a curtain opening and allowed the antics of four mortal lovers and six mechanicals into the magical machinations of the immortal world – A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Rain or Shine Theatre Company once again provided a professional dramatic and enjoyable rendition of William Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedy!
I am sure that when Shakespeare sat down to write A Midsummer Night’s Dream he was inspired by the beautiful English countryside with its charm, mystique and a history of tales of fairies and magic; a setting such as Kinlet Hall.
Historically this would have been played in with limited scenery, where the audience had to use their imagination to picture the location. Yet at Kinlet Hall the work was done for us with the spectacular surroundings providing the perfect backdrop for a very real and authentic performance where the characters came to life, embraced the audience and consumed you into the magical world of Puck, Titania and Oberon.
Particularly memorable performances came from a vivacious Helena, hilarious Bottom and an enchanting Puck although the entire cast provided an imaginative and well edited version of the original text.

“Nor hath love’s mind of any judgment taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:
And therefore is love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft beguil’d.”

Amongst the most vocal and enthralled were noticeably the younger members of the audience who sat either open mouthed at the supernatural spectacle or laughing out loud at the antics of Bottom and the lovers.
Elizabethan audiences would similarly have enjoyed a whole social package whilst they were waiting for the play.  In true Shakespeare style the time to meet friends, eat, drink and talk was enjoyed by an increased number of theatregoers before and after the show. Tables laid with elaborate feasts created a picture of quintessential Englishness, and fine wines and ales were consumed aplenty.

“The lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagination all compact."

Rob Wilcox, Chief Theatre Critic