Review of At the Torch from the theatre dance and drama in Wales web site

At the Torch

Mappa Mundi/Mwldan/Torch Theatre- A Midsummer Night’s Dream , Torch Theatre , October 5, 2012

“If we shadows have offended,/ Think but this, and all is mended,/ That you have but slumber’d here/ While these visions did appear.” ( V.I.413-416)

There is always something magical about seeing a Shakespeare play come alive in a performance; and the Mappa Mundi/Mwldan/Torch Theatre production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is no exception to this rule.

Set in 1940’s Britain, director Peter Doran has done well to place Shakespeare’s comedy in a war time context. Love rivals Lysander and Demetrius become war heroes, the mischievous Puck is a turn-of-the-century dandy, and Bottom and his team of actors are a war-time operatic society (S.A.A.D.O.S) trying to generate some relief and escapism from the chaos of the home front.

What is definitely apparent throughout Doran’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the theme of realism versus surrealism. He effectively places the fairy-realm and neutral ground of the dream-like forest against the turmoil of the War and the tight class structure of Theseus and Hippolyta’s palace in St Athens (see what they did there?). And of course, Puck’s influence is very apt as he portrays both a mischievous trickster and a ghostly sprite adding much to the overall eerie realm of the forest.

In the Forest anything can transpire, especially if Puck has anything to do with it! Suddenly the weird and the wonderful happens; a love potion is created making Titania fall in love with an ass and after fighting over the love of Hermia, Lysander and Demetrius turn their affections onto the poor and tortured Helena. Finally though, all is rectified in the ethereal and mystical forest, and true love is recognised for all the lovers in both the real and the surreal world.

The comedic influence of Doran’s production must not be ignored. The aptly named St Athens Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (S.A.A.D.O.S) provides a highly amusing relief throughout the play, coming to a head in their own version of The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe. This scene especially, is bound to make the audience howl with laughter!

With a very talented cast, it is evident in this production of A Misdummer Night’s Dream that magic can cause and fix all problems, and most importantly that “The course of true love never did run smooth” (I.II.134).

Photo: Craig Sugden

Reviewed by: Jessie Condon

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At the Torch- reviewed by Tim Barrett (19 August 2010)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (04 August 2009)
At the Torch- reviewed by Adam Somerset (26 April 2009)
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At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (05 April 2008)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (04 December 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (25 October 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (20 July 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Michael Kelligan (09 March 2006)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters, The Stage (16 February 2006)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Terry Johnson, The Stage (15 October 2005)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Simon Carr. Western Telegraph (09 December 2004)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Emma Jones, Western Telegraph (21 October 2004)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Graham Williams (10 March 2004)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (06 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by Jenny Hanson, Tenby Observer (05 February 2003)
At the Torch- reviewed by ANDREW DAVIES, TENBY OBSERVER (31 January 2003)
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At the Torch- reviewed by ANDREW DAVIES, TENBY OBSERVER (06 December 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Assorted Edinburgh papers (02 August 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Zoe Hewett (26 March 2002)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Rebecca Nesvet (28 February 2002)
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At the Torch- reviewed by MILFORD & WEST WALES MERCURY (15 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Keith Johnson, Western Telegaph (13 February 2002)
At the Torch- reviewed by Tenby Observer (07 December 2001)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Janet Bott (07 December 2001)
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At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (26 October 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (11 September 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (09 August 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Victoria Cooper (10 March 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Elaine Atack (03 March 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Rebecca Nesvett (28 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Vivien Stoddart (The Stage) (15 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (14 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by Ron Waters (08 February 2001)
At the Torch- reviewed by David Adams (21 October 2000)

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