A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Pearl) NYC Reviews and Tickets

"It seems clear that all the performers here have been infected by Bottom’s passion to take on any role that might be on offer, and to turn every thought and impulse into theatrical action. In their hands, Shakespeare’s tale of love lost and found in an enchanted forest becomes a gleeful paean to the joys of losing and finding yourself through acting...Its first objective is to entertain, while sustaining a sharp narrative that follows a labyrinthine course of love, true and false."
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"Not since Peter Brook’s now-legendary 1970 Royal Shakespeare Company version has there been so radically original or mysteriously poetic a production of the greatest of all stage comedies. It seals Mr. Tucker’s reputation as the outstanding American classical stage director of his generation."
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"This production may feel disconcerting to those who expect a traditional production of 'Midsummer,' and given Tucker's innovative treatment, it could prove initially confusing for those who have not encountered the work before on page or stage. But Tucker and his troupe lend an unexpected magic and hilarity to this comedy that you're not likely to see anywhere else — a perfect example of Shakespeare at play."
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"There are so many moving parts that things are bound to slip here and there—and they do, with some odd pacing in spots, some strange tonal choices, and other inconsistencies which mar the production...Despite its issues, I found this to be the most engaging and intriguing performance of the play I've seen. It's good, challenging work from a highly regarded company and director, and if you like to see the work of the Bard pushed without being mangled, this production is well worth your while."
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"The question is: what happens when you stage 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' with such a tiny cast, not a single costume alteration, no props, and the sounds and music (much of it drawn from familiar pop tunes) supplied by the actors themselves? The answer—at least much of the time—is, like the name of Tucker’s company, bedlam... This isn’t to say that there’s not a lot here to appreciate."
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"'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' is performed in what looks like a gigantic kitty litter box. Not surprising, considering within the first five minutes, I would have flushed this production down the drain. Gone is the ethereal beauty and the poetry to be replaced by the crass grabbing of body parts and copulation every chance they get. And this is suppose to pass as comedy. This version seems conceived by a 13 year old boy’s wet dream...I’m sorry this is not theater and it is not funny."
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"This is not a good introduction to Shakespeare's messy but enduring comedy. Yet some new notes are struck and that's nothing to pass over lightly...But we feel little when lovers are torn apart and even less when they are reunited. And you know a 'Midsummer' is not wholly successful when you worry about the ending before it's begun. Still, the cast is energetic and winning and some rewards are earned."
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"The acting quintet impresses most of all with its teamwork. Never did they fail to meet Tucker’s demands. As usual, his approach works best with the most familiar of classics. I would not recommend this 'Dream' to first-timers: too much of the text would be lost amid the distractions of the actors getting from one movement to the next. To the rest of us, however, the transitions seem...invisible."
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"While the laughter that arises from the cast's collective antics is both explosive and irresistible, this 'Midsummer' is no mere jokefest. Not since Peter Brook’s now-legendary 1970 Royal Shakespeare Company version has there been so radically original or mysteriously poetic a production of the greatest of all stage comedies."
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