“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Oddsocks Theatre Company
Lakeside, Nottingham

William Shakespeare’s most amusing and, possibly, most performed works is given the Oddsocks treatment. Last year was my first experience of Oddsocks’ productions when they presented a Mods n Rockers version of “Romeo & Juliet” and a Sci Fi twist on “The Tempest”. These two shows alone made me determined to see what they would do with the already absurd and comical “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”.

In a nutshell, for anyone who has never discovered the Bard’s classic comedy, four young lovers run away to the woods. but before long they unwittingly find themselves the subjects of tricks, played on them by the Fairy King, Oberon. Add to that a troupe of amateur actors hired to perform their new play and the comedy touch paper is well and truly ablaze.

Again there is music involved, some you may know, "You Can't Hurry Love", "It Takes Two", "Dancing In The Moonlight", "Money For Nothing", "Runaway" among them, all performed by live musicians. Music you wouldn't expect to hear in a Shakespeare play.In fact if William Shakespeare wrote pantomimes, this is the sort of production you'd expect to see.

The cast interact with the audience, with one man being employed as "the wall", and woe betide anyone who dared to arrive late or go to the toilet while the play was on,as you will be highlighted by whichever cast member spots you! All additional fun for the rest of the audience.

Like panto there are several topical gags thrown in, regarding the new Prime Minister and Brexit, which just goes to show that with a clever Director and Writer, Andy Barrow, even a 400 year old script can appeal to any audience.

Andy Barrow (Bottom, Egeus and Oberon). Alice Merrivale (Puck and Hermia), Asha Cornelia Cleur (Hippolyta, Helena and Titania), Alex Wadham (Demetrius, Flute and Cobweb), Christopher Smart ( Theseus, Peter Quince and Peaseblossom) and Peter Hoggart (Lysander, Snug and Mustard Seed) are the very hard working cast. When they are not on stage, they are mixing with the audience, selling programmes, handing out forms and generally chatting to everyone. And even the rain didn't stop this play.

The cast's ad libbing and improvisation skills are second to none, and the comedy flows naturally and frequently.

The costumes, by Vanessa Anderson are as usual wonderful, especially Oberon's and Bottom's.

I've said it before and I say it again, this play, and Oddsock's off the wall way of presenting Shakespeare to the masses, are a perfect introduction to the Bard's works for, not only young children, but to anyone who thinks that Shakespeare is a bit stuffy. Oddsocks do more than dismiss this myth

This production is only for the one night, Friday 26 July.