A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare in the Square) NYC Reviews and Tickets

80%

(35 Ratings)

Positive

83%

Mixed

17%

Negative

Members say

Entertaining, Clever, Funny, Quirky, Great acting

About the Show

Shakespeare in the Square presents a stripped-down, food-inspired take on Shakespeare's classic comedy of desperate lovers, would-be tragedians, and meddling fairies.

This production of 'Midsummer' will be performed on a bare stage with minimal props and costumes. A cast of six performs all the major roles, exploring the thematic and playful potential of doubling actors as fairies, lovers, royals, and mechanicals. This is a very physical, athletic production, and the creative staging transforms a blank space from Athens to the woods to the fairy kingdom and back again. To highlight the madness/mess of the play, the company has introduced a variety of food-stuff: the Athenian wood is filled with mashed potatoes, marshmallow goop, pasta, and more.

Show-Score Member Reviews (35)

Fun, Good actors, Clever, Long, Indulgent

See it if you enjoy clever ways of doing Shakespeare, you want to see some food fights, some funny mechanicals!

Don't see it if you don't want to see yet another Midsummer..., you don't like longer cuts of Shakespeare shows

Ambitious, Entertaining, Quirky, Clever

See it if You enjoy small talented casts that play multiple roles and switch between them effortlessly. Good music, interesting space and use of food.

Don't see it if You are hard of hearing, the acoustics aren't great and they don't always project. Sometimes the use of food was unmotivated and confusing. Read more

Great writing, Quirky, Insipid, Gross

See it if You love Shakespeare so much that you need to see every performance of a comedy that anyone does.

Don't see it if You are grossed out by people throwing food.

Disappointing, Fluffy, Slow

See it if Cause it's free. If you like boring music and Shakespeare for tots this hackneyed production is for you. Uneven and unrealistic casting.

Don't see it if If you hate seeing wonderful and talented performers in a misguided mess.

Quirky

See it if You enjoy small ensembles with actors playing multiple characters.

Don't see it if You want actors that seem to care that you understand what they're saying. The fun/quirky acting choices seemed more important to them.

Confusing, Indulgent, Quirky, Slow, Ambitious

See it if You enjoy non-traditional interpretations of Shakespeare. You like movement-based theatre. You like intimate staging.

Don't see it if You prefer an emphasis on the verse. You want choices that enhance the character&text.-.I found them confusing & distracting. Didn't get it.