The Marin Shakespeare Company‘s 35th season opener, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” throws a wild futuristic twist onto the beloved Shakespearean comedy at Dominican University’s Forest Meadows Amphitheater in San Rafael.
Director Bridgette Loriaux sets the classic tale in the year 3000 AD. She mixes traditional elements with some bold, maybe even risky, artistic choices.
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This adaptation has moments of real magic and humor. Not every experiment lands, but Marin County theater fans will probably find it both familiar and surprisingly fresh.
A Futuristic Vision of Shakespeare’s Beloved Comedy
Running through July 13, this version transforms the Forest Meadows Amphitheater into a place where ancient Athens collides with the far-off future.
The outdoor setting feels just right for a summer night of theater under the stars. Folks come from Novato, Mill Valley, and all over to catch it.
Set designer Nina Ball goes for a bold look, putting a brutalist Athens next to a beautiful Art Nouveau wonderland forest. Most of the magical action takes place in that forest, and it really pops visually.
Musical and Visual Elements Create Atmospheric Magic
David Warner’s original music boosts the show’s otherworldly mood. The score jumps from gothic to modern, matching the futuristic vibe.
People from Tiburon and Sausalito will probably notice how the music highlights the magical parts of the story while keeping Shakespeare’s timeless feel. The visuals pull audiences out of their daily routines in Corte Madera and Larkspur and into a world where fairies stir up trouble and love potions spark chaos.
Standout Performances Anchor the Production
The cast brings these Shakespearean characters to life in vivid ways. Richard Pallaziol makes Quince unexpectedly endearing.
Steve Price, as Bottom, nails the role—he’s just the right mix of silly and lovable. The rest of the mechanicals get real laughs from crowds, even those who trek in from Fairfax and San Anselmo.
Bold Artistic Choices Yield Mixed Results
Director Loriaux takes some big swings that sometimes work and sometimes don’t. She swaps out half of Bottom’s famous speech for sonnets, which is a pretty major change and might throw off Shakespeare purists from Ross and Kentfield.
Some of the dance sequences look gorgeous, but they don’t always connect to the story. They feel more like artistic pit stops than actual plot drivers.
Loriaux tries to make Hippolyta and Theseus equals, which feels right for today. But the power dynamic between fairy royals Oberon and Titania still feels off, and it seems like a missed chance to bring those characters fully into the present for Marin County audiences.
An Evening of Outdoor Theater Magic in Marin
Sure, the production stumbles here and there, but honestly, it delivers a pretty enjoyable night out. For folks in Greenbrae or Strawberry itching for something different under the open sky, this “Midsummer” brings a lot to the table:
Tickets run from $15 to $49, so it’s not going to break the bank for most. Grab a blanket, maybe a glass of wine if that’s your thing, and get ready for an evening that, even with its flaws, manages to capture plenty of that old Shakespearean magic.
Here is the source article for this story: Lunatics, Lovers & Poets: Marin Shakes’ ‘Midsummer’
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