It is a very playful environment that Carter has created and she has directed her fantastic ensemble cast to play, and boy, do they ever. Tiffany D. Turner and Randy Warsaw both excel as the fairy royals Titania and Oberon, as does the vivacious Jeni Ahlfeld (who also designed the lovely pajama costumes) as Oberon's servant Puck. The four lovers in this play can often be generic and hard to tell apart, but this Hermia (Angelica Duncan), Demetrius (James Parenti), Lysander (Joe Mullen), and Helena (Katie Braden) all have great moments with strong individual personalities and they are very, very funny as well.
Then there are the mechanicals. As led by Chris Kateff’s gloriously ridiculous Bottom, they are anything but common folk. All of them – Timothy J. Cox as the hapless director Peter Quince, Andrew Ash as Flute, Charlotte Layne Dunn as Starveling, Miriam Mintz as Snout, and Timothy Williams as Snug (complete with tiny bear companion) – under- and over-play beautifully, making their appearances seem too few, and too brief.
Rounding out the ensemble is Charles Baker, who does fine work as Hermia's stubborn father, Egeus, as do Brandon Hillen and Heidi Zenz as Theseus and Hippolyta respectively. Sarah King (who sings wonderfully in the production, like a young Joni Mitchell) and Trish Phelps also provide able support in their brief roles as Peaseblossom and Cobweb.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs at The Secret Theatre until January 3rd. For information on tickets, please visit www.secrettheatre.com.
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