A Midsummer Night’s Dream
“I will lead them up and down” says Puck, and that is what Jon Siddall did with his excellent team, both within and without. I don’t think we managed any wild thyme blowing, but the churchyard made a lovely sylvan setting. It was very interesting to see and hear so many new people – and indeed we heard much better than in the church. The costumes were a fun mixture, with elegance for characters like Emma Lyndon-Stanford (good to see her back) as Titania, and for the two very lively young men, Ulysses Wells and Ashley Collin, playing the two lovers. A charming touch was that one was dark and one was blonde – and the same with their ladies. We had to get our heads around an all female team for “Pyramus and Thisbe” but special applause for Hana Salussolia where I am sure English is not her native language, but who was as broad and funny as could be as Bottom. The fairies were one family show or rather two families, and before we know where we are young Rufus Pennock, who played the violin, will be wanting a gig with the Hampstead Collective. Was Oberon his mum? And old friends like Adrian Hughes and Matthew Williams were there, so no-one could say at the end that these shadows had offended!
