Ixtlan (Demetrius), Elena Wright (Helena), Adrian Deane (Lysandra), Storm White (Hermia)
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream could not have found a better home than with the Marin Shakespeare Company and Bridgette Loriaux, who adapted, choreographed, and directed a delightfully modern, whimsical, and hilarious production that charms audiences of all ages.
Set in San Rafael’s Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, the horseshoe-shaped seating nestles in a lush, green forest, where gentle breezes added fantasy and magical charm. Creative set designer Nina Bell crafts a standout up-dated fairy-tale castle, where the fairy elite spy on the forest below from opposing balconies.
Kudos to the vibrant staging, dynamic acting, and, most impressively, the crystal-clear speech.
In brief, the main story line involves two couples in a romantic mess. Old man, stoic Egeus, (Richard Pallaziol) insists his daughter, feisty Hermia (Storm White), marry handsome, forthright Demetrius (lxtlan), even though she is in love with passionate Lysander (Adrian Deane). The two women run into the woods. Jealous Helena (Elena Wright), in love with Demitrius, follows them into the wood, as does Demitrius because he is in love with Hermia. A Soap Opera in the unraveling.
But Loriaux enhances the drama with modern touches—notably, a tender original lullaby by David Warner, adding emotional depth to one facet of love portrayed in the production. Loriaux also incorporates fast-beat contemporary dances enhanced by Lighting Designer Jon Tracy.
Regal Oberon (Johnny Moreno), the fairy king, watches from his perch atop the hill. He sends his impish right-hand man, the playful Puck (Rob Seitelman), to stir up mischief with a magical flower. The scent of a flower causes its victims to fall in love with the first person they see. And so, the folly begins—full of fun, flash, and confusion. Love becomes a delightful delusion, hilariously embodied by Steve Price as Bottom, complete with the head of a donkey. Thespians, that roamed the forest, put on a play within the play for the Fairy King and Queen (dressed in white Star War robes and boots).
Charisse Loriaux (Hippolyta), Johnny Moreno (Theseus)
The modern costumes by Bethany Deal Flores ground the magic firmly in the present day, allowing the audience to more easily connect their own experiences of love to the play. Love as a dream, love as magical moments, then love as delusion, confusion, then realness.
When the fairy queen, Tatania (Charisse Loriaux), falls under Puck’s spell and declares her love for Bottom, one of the play’s funniest and most absurd scenes unfolds. The hill is drawn to the earth, as royalty and fairies meet in chaos.
Marin Shakespeare Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the finest production of this play I’ve seen. With a fresh modern twist, it draws you into the passion and absurdity of love through superb performances, witty humor, and dynamic movement across the expansive stage. An infectious energy invites the audience into a playful and heartfelt union with the world of the performance. If you can only see one play this summer, this is it.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, written by William Shakespeare, adapted, choreographed, and directed by Bridgette Loriaux. Sound Designer, Ray Archie, Fight Director, Dave Maier, Marin Shakespeare Company at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre, info: www.marinshakespeare.org to July 13, 2025
Cast: Adrian Deane, Ixtlan*, Carla Gallardo, Charisse Loriaux*,
Johnny Moreno*, Richard Pallaziol, Steve Price, Rob Seitelman, Storm White, Elena Wright*, Anika Griggs-Yew
Photos by Jay Yamada