A theatrical dream awakes in A Midsummer Night's Dream

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English and Theatre professors around the world rejoice! This Monday's performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream stormed the Middlebury College campus with exclamatory cries - Shakespeare is not dead. The words of the literary god were celebrated with hoots and hollers by Middlebury spectators at the SITI Company's performance. Directed by Anne Bogart, this unique rendition of the comedic classic donned new contemporary twists.
Told through the cultural landscape of 1930s America, Bogart added bold theatrical elements which revolutionized the production. Though visually simplistic, the stage had a basic backdrop of a cloudy sky and the props were minimalist due to the nature of a traveling theatre company - the lighting and costume design were truly works of art. The brilliant colors of costume designer Gabriel Berry and intricate light designs of lighting designer Brian Scott painted with ease any image that the set lacked. In addition, the whimsical natures of the actors' movements were significant to the performance's dance-like approach.
The SITI Company uses the Viewpoints and the Suzuki Method of Actor Training as two training methods for its actors. This highly stylized approach is evident in the professionalism of the actors. Most revered by the audience was the hilarity of Christopher Spencer Wells who played Egeus and Bottom, as well as the gracefulness of Ellen Lauren who played Hippolyta and Titania. As one of their mission statements explains, the SITI Company strives "to create opportunities for artistic dialogue and cultural exchange" - and so they did. After a long autumn Monday, Middlebury students in attendance left Wright Theatre with a sense of utter rejuvenation and indulgent pleasure, a sensation that can only be brought about by a good night at the theatre.