The train is very late!
We arrive barely in time for the wobbly violins that begin Britten’s A Midsummer Nights Dream.
There is no opera without a great Puck and tonight we have one in the actor Miltos Yerolemou, who plays the dancing man on the popular TV series game of thrones. He is uncontainable! This troublemaker along with a bored king make the best of a long summer night, and give us a dreamy night at the opera.
The music and acting are great and I like that the libretto is all quoted from the original Shakespeare.
Most of the production takes place on a big bed.
Yawn.
So What’s A Midsummer Nights Dream all about? It begins with the bored king of the fairies arguing with the queen. After the argument the king has his servant Puck put a magical love potion in her eye to make her fall in love with the first person she sees. Meanwhile Lysander and Hermia who are in love run off into the woods, followed by Demtrius who loves Hermia and he is in turn chased by the Helena who loves him. Oberon seeing this has Puck also put the potion in Demetrius’ eye so he will fall in love with Helena. Puck accidentaly puts the drops in Lysanders eye instead of Demetrius. Helena rejected by Demetrius wakes up Lysander who immediately falls in love with her and runs off, leaving Hermia to wake up alone. Meanwhile an acting troup have also come to the forest. Puck puts the potion in the eye of the fairy queen and also turns one of the actors, bottom into a donkey. The fairy queen sees him first of course and falls in love with him. When the night of mischief ends, Oberon releases everyone from their spells and all returns to normal.
Notes on the production
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Composer………………………….. Benjamin Britten
Oberon……………………………….. Tim Mead
Tytania………………………………… Anna Chris
Puck…………………………….………Miltos Yerolemou
Helena………………………………….Georgia Jarman
Hermia………………………………… Siena Licht Miller
Lysander……………………………….Brenton Ryan
Demetrius……………………………. Johnathan McCullough
Theseus………………………………. Evan Hughes
Hippolyta………………………………Allyson McHardy
Bottom………………………………. Matthew Rose
Flute…………………………….……… Miles Mykkanen
Quince………………………………….Brent Michael Smith
Snug…………………………………… Patrick Guetti
Snout……………………………………George Somerville
Cobweb………………………….…..….Jack Celluccu
Peaseblossom………………………Timothy O’Connnor
Mustardseed…………………………Evan Schaffer
Moth……………………………………….Payton Owens
Conductor…………………..………… Corrado Rovaris
Philadelphia Opera
2/10/19