REVIEW: A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Guthrie Theater
A Midsummer Night's Dream runs at the Guthrie Theater now through March 23
I have a rather complicated relationship with William Shakespeare. Being someone who grew up with theatre, has been in theatre, and has an academic degree in theatre, I’m still often careful when I approach Shakespeare. There are times when I’m all in and ready to dive in to watch it. However, there are times when it’s the last thing I want to touch. Maybe it’s the weather. Maybe it’s the mood. But what I can say is that I’m always in the mood to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A complicated relationship with Shakespeare is one thing; however, I have a fantastic one with this play. After starring in it as Nick Bottom my senior year of high school, it’s always been a favorite of mine. It’s comedic, it’s full of love and life. Overall, it’s a fantastic play and a great show to see at the start of the new year.
This production hits most of the right notes. The notes it does hit right are the fabulous casting choices surrounding this production. Shakespeare can be hard for people who may not be used to the language or are unfamiliar with the story; however, the cast makes it approachable and fun.
Remy Auberjonois as Nick Bottom is simply chef’s kiss. The role is already a playground for over-the-top antics, and Auberjonois takes full advantage, pushing the limits in the best way possible. Just when you think he’s gone big, he goes bigger—and then bigger. His portrayal is lighthearted, delusional, and irresistibly witty—truly the heart of the production. His performance shines even more thanks to the incredible cast of Mechanicals, who bring a wonderful sense of camaraderie to each scene.
The four lovers infuse their performances with warmth, humor, and impressive musical ability. Royer Bockus (Helena) opens the show with a charming and engaging conversation with the audience about love—one that pays off beautifully by the end (no spoilers here). Jonathan Luke Stevens gives Lysander a rock-star attitude that’s bound to make a few hearts melt. Justin Withers, in a refreshing take, finds unexpected comedic gold in Demetrius, earning plenty of well-deserved laughs. Ari Derambakhsh’s Hermia is headstrong and refreshingly modern, making her portrayal one of the most compelling I’ve seen.
And then there’s Regina Marie Williams as Hippolyta and Titania. What more needs to be said? If you know her work in the Twin Cities, you already know she turns every role into a ten-out-of-ten moment. Meanwhile, the dynamic duo of John Catron (Theseus/Oberon) and Jimmy Kieffer (Philostrate/Puck) are pure magic together—their onstage chemistry is an absolute delight to watch.
The beauty of Shakespeare's plays is that they can be set anywhere, in any time period. You can do them in the time they were written or move them to a place you wouldn't think of—like the 1970s, which my production did. This allows the design team to experiment and get really creative. And so, I was a bit sad when this production took the more conventional track with A Midsummer Night's Dream. The wood was glorious and magical, sure enough, with its dazzling illumination and frivolous touches, but it didn’t go deep enough—it looked gorgeous initially but was missing that certain je ne sais quoi in the ingenuity aspect.
The Guthrie’s recent production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a delightful and whimsical take on Shakespeare’s classic, filled with vibrant performances and a playful sense of magic. The production runs now through March 23 on the Wurtele Thurst Stage.