Shakespeare in the Park "midsummer night's dream".
On the 10th of May 2023, I watched Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream", produced by Shakespeare in the Park. It was a phenomenal and wild theatrical experience that had left a profound impact on my understanding of Shakespeare's works. The unique and modern rendition of the Elizabethan play had transformed my entire perspective on the comedy and had left an indelible impact on my passion towards Shakespearean literature.
Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" follows the tale of how the Fairy King and Queen are in conflict, four young lovers have run away to the woods, and a troupe of craftsmen are practicing a play. However, on Midsummer Night, Puck, the main troublemaker, is playing tricks to make sure that true love does not go smoothly. Puck's enchanted spells lead the lovers to switch their loyalty, and a surprising change occurs to one of the tradesmen, Nick Bottom. The error-ridden play highlights Shakespeare's first experimentation with word play and mistaken identity. Furthermore, despite the genre being of comedy, it explores societal issues such as displacement, familial separation, grief , class structure and how forgiveness prevails over resentment and hatred.
Shakespeare in the Park had performed the play at Fort Canning Park and constructed their set with an industrial theme which had quickly shifted into a fantastical variant of the original set. Jam-packed with comical acting and amazing displays of heartache and desire, the team had powerfully shed light onto the fickleness of love through the thematic exploration of appearance versus reality and order and disorder. Thus, inextricably captivating the audience alongside its eccentric mix of mythical and industrial design and queer representation. The play was remarkable in a number of ways such as its engagement with the audience by breaking the fourth-wall and its ability to confuse the audience appropriately to enhance the dramatic effect of the play.
Overall, I had thoroughly enjoyed attending the play with my classmates and friends as it was a wonderful experience both academically and emotionally.
The Set of the Play
The stage club
"measure for measure".
On the 22nd of September 2023, I had watched Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure", presented by The Stage Club and directed by the talented Susie Penrice Tyrie. It was an enriching experience that had fully contributed to my understanding and appreciation for Measure for Measure as my studied literature text.
Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" delves into the city of Vienna and how its streets are teeming with immorality. The Duke departs, under the guise of a friar, due to his reluctance to amend his moral laxity and places Angelo in charge. Thus, Angelo, a man of austere values, reconstructs the laws of Vienna and plunges the city into his draconian authority. However, ironically, despite convicting Claudio due to his act of fornication, Angelo succumbs to the same sins he condemns as he forces Isabella, a nun, to sleep with him in exchange for Claudio's life. The play ultimately alludes to the verse in the Bible in which whatever measure one gives out, one must be measured with in the same way, emphasising the temperance of justice and mercy. The problem play was held at KC Arts Centre and was exceptionally delivered by The Stage Club.
Overall, the entire presentation of the play had redefined my conception of Measure for Measure and had provided me with a greater appreciation for my literary texts. The segment at the end of the play in which we could approach Susie Penrice Tyre with questions on her direction and interpretation of the play had also profoundly impacted my proficiency with the text.
