A Midsummer Night's Dream is set in ancient Japan, and is a shorter version of the original by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Theseus, dressed in black samurai robes, and Hippolyta, in pink kimono, opens the production in a mixture of Japanese and heavily-accented English. It's hard to tell if Kenji Watanabe's and You-Ri Yamanaka's performances are deliberately formal because Jonathan Man has directed them to be regal and repressed, or because the actors are nervous and uncomfortable speaking in English. It's an awkward opening; and for those not familiar with the story it's a confusing delivery of the premise.

The entrance of the young lovers (played by native English speakers of East Asian descent) brings the story to life. Matt McCooey as Lysander has the chiselled looks of a young man of Japanese/English descent. His Lysander is an ardent lover in pursuit of Hermia. David Lee Jones delivers Demetrius as rugged, not obviously handsome; and gives a commanding performance in which Demetrius becomes handsome. Nina Kwok presents Hermia, petite and cute in a pink kimono, as defiant when her father commands her to marry Demetrius. Later, Hermia is outraged when both Lysander and Demetrius fall out of love with her. She becomes a fury running around the stage, man-handled by Lysander and Demetrius - it's a very funny permformance.

It's a shame that Jay Oliver Yip's Puck doesn't appear until twenty minutes into the play, because he is fun. When Oberon commands, Puck zooms off to girdle the earth, his back arched, arms poised behind him so that he transforms into a wasp. He stops in mid-zoom when Oberon orders him back. Movement director Billy Sy's and movement consultant Tanroh Ishida's work enhances Puck's impish presence. Jay Oliver Yip's delivery allows the magic of original writer 's words to breath, without suffocating the subtext of the dramatic action. His diction and performance embody what the play wants to be: a love story haunted by the twilight world of forest spirits - as at home in ancient Japan as it was in Elizabethan England. Japan is alive in designer Wai Yin Kwok's use of swirling paintings of Japanese trees, and sound designer Cos Chapman's sparse string music.

Kenji Watanabe's Oberon becomes animated when he's with Puck. Oberon develops a dastardly laugh as he orders Puck to streak the lovers' eyes with the love juice. The Oberon/Puck dynamic is full of comedy: though Oberon's continual laughing makes him less king of the fairies, and more prince of fools.

The fools are played by the same actors as the lovers. As they perform the comic tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe, their accents change from middle-class British to working-class Cockney. Performances are strong, and Jonathan Man's direction delivers smooth transitions between roles. The production uses both the English and Japanese language, and several accents; it's a decision which weakens the internal logic of the play. It's perhaps best enjoyed for comedy rather than diction.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): David Lee Jones - Demetrius / Flute. Nina Kwok - Hermia / Snug. Matt McCooey - Lysander / Bottom. Julia Sandiford - Helena / Starveling. Kenji Watanabe - Theseus / Oberon. You-Ri Yamanaka - Theseus / Oberon. Jay Oliver Yip - Egeus / Puck / Quince.

Company Credits: Writer - William Shakespeare (1564-1616); (written c 1594-1596). Director - Jonathan Man. Designer - Wai Yin Kwok. Lighting Designer - Chris Pye. Sound Designer - Cos Chapman. Movement Director - Billy Sy. Movement Consultant - Tanroh Ishida. Workshop Leader - Ned Glasier. Production Manager - Rob Prestage. Stage Manager - Hannah Mander. Mask Artist - Adam Smith. Costume Maker - Ellen Cairns. Design Assistant - Reah Kim. Set Painters - Beatrice Cockburn, Beth Crock, Stacey Prestage, Chimaine Sampson. Hair - Tomomi Suzuki. Make Up - Chiaki Azuma. Researcher - Masae Suzuki. Set Construction - Showtime Construction. Producer - uncredited. Company - Southwark Playhouse.

END

(c) Sophie Khan 2009

reviewed Friday 20 February 2009 / Southwark Playhouse, London

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com