The Newsletter review of A Midsummer Night's Dream: "brilliant brilliant brilliant"

Producer Derrick Gask strives to ensure there are no egos in his shows and this year’s cast has done him proud in the Bard’s classic tale of tangled relationships.



Copyright Darren Thomas



Surely the first name on the team sheet when casting for this classic Shakespeare comedy was Eric Potts in the role he has wanted all his career – Bottom. Now in his fourth Stafford Festival Shakespeare production it should be law that Potts comes to Stafford every year. He has the rare gift of being funny without even saying a word – quite simply a comedy legend. There is plenty of scope for Bottom’s character to eclipse all around him but the comedy maestro pitched it perfectly allowing others to shine.

And shine they did not least Georgina White – reminiscent of a young Susan George - whose Helena swung from maniacal paranoia to Frank Spencer-esque haplessness in a heartbeat. It was never so funny to see a woman lose her pride and her mind. Superb.

The interplay between the two love tangled couples Lysander (Craig Fletcher) and Hermia (Jennifer Greenwood) and Demetrius (Eamonn O’Dwyer) and Helena was effortless. Hard to believe they had only been together for a couple of weeks.

As for Bottom’s merry men of mirth Phylip Harries, a veteran of SFS shows, was a perfect foil for Potts. It is the third time the pair have appeared together at Stafford Castle – they were last seen together two years ago in The Comedy of Errors when they brought the house down and Gask, a shrewd producer reunited a partnership that is comedy gold. Their play for Theseus, the Duke of Athens, played imperiously by Robert Fitch, was absolutely side splitting.

Simone James made a majestic Hypolita and a tantalising Titania and Lanre Malaolu was delicious as he strutted cockily around spreading his mayhem among the lovers.



Copyright Darren Thomas



A sellout first night audience was treated to a flawless performance from everyone. There were some glorious harmonies devised by MD Greg Palmer and a simple and elegant dance routine put together by a Hollywood choreographer no less – Francesca Jaynes, who has worked on films including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd and Alice in Wonderland and is on her fifth SFS production.

Also in charge for the fifth time is director Peter Rowe. Gask has assembled a tight team who work like a well oiled machine and has scored another success with this show.

The annual Shakespeare at the castle is the highlight of Stafford’s artistic calendar and provides a quintessentially English experience. Add a picnic or a deli platter to die for from caterer’s from the town’s Swan Hotel and it’s a multi sensory treat that should not be missed.

Tickets are flying out of the box office and with good reason – A Midsummer Night’s Dream reeks of quality. Brilliant brilliant brilliant.