‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Comes Alive on a Woodland Stage

Tucked away in a small earthy clearing of Havenwoods State Forest, seven Marquette University graduates last Friday cast a spellbinding production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream rife with breakneck physical comedy, countless costume changes and endless bouts of thunderous laughter and applause. The company of six actors and one stagehand, christened the Summit Players, are bringing their free-of-charge Shakespeare translation to 13 state parks this summer. Each performance begins with a preshow children’s workshop, which introduces the Bard’s language and stories.

Set against a backdrop of knotted trees and brambles, the young actors transported their audience, a collection of young and old, to the fairy world itself. As dusk set in and small pockets of fading sunshine trickled through the canopy above, so too did the lovers of Athens and the pixie kingdom come alive on the woodland stage. The play’s set is simply comprised of a picnic table and old-fashioned traveling trunk, both used to dance, sing and sleep on.

Cut to only 75 minutes, the most notable aspect of this production is the actors’ ability to play several characters at once. As the plot shifts, each player must scramble to grab different costume pieces to identify their characters. Small fluffy caplets flecked in silver signify fairies, while scarves and vests denote Athenian garb. The actors take it in stride and, as the play comes to a head, hilarity ensues as they switch characters at lightning speed.

Actresses Hannah Klapperich-Mueller and Kelly Dillon as Helena and Hermia are equally hilarious as they snivel and dote over their respective lovers. Joe Picchetti as King Oberon and Lysander is gallantly sublime, as is Armando Ronconi as Nick Bottom and Demetrius. Ronconi in particular gave an uproariously funny performance, collecting many giggles from the youngest audience members who took to his oddball antics onstage. Ava Thomann as Queens Titania and Hippolyta, and Peter Quince, brought a wise maturity to her varied roles. And A.J. Magoon, as Theseus and Robin Goodfellow the impish sprite, was excellent, closing the show with Puck’s infamously dreamlike soliloquy.

Final performances of the summer will be held July 3 at Potawatomi State Park, 7:30 p.m.; July 4 at Rib Mountain State Park, 7:30 p.m.; July 5 at Kettle Moraine State Forest, 2:30 p.m.