A Midsummer Night's Dream enchants
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from November 1997.
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Now Gabrielle Wheaton has accepted the challenge of producing and directing the large cast and crew required to bring Dream to the stage.
Costuming may well be on reason why amateur acting groups shy away from Shakespeare. Gabrielle pays special tribute to her wardrobe mistress, Cathy Peart, for solving numerous problems. The director's programme notes, in fact, include several theatre commandments, such as: "Thou shalt remember to order thy equipment in advance. For truly, I say unto thee, this is the Cayman Islands and often nought may be found when thou wouldst have it...." Gabrielle also credits Peter Phillips with a successful set design and construction.
As she conceived it, her forest would look like a forest and yet enable the characters to move freely. "I particularly wanted trees, and Peter managed to help me find them," she said. But the play's the thing and special commendation must be reserved for the actors who mastered their parts. While keeping to the original script brings great satisfaction it can also result in big disasters. But even at the dress rehearsal stage Gabrielle could say confidently that the vast majority of lines had been delivered "spot on".
Among the stars of this worthy venture are Nikki Moore, Steven Roy, Dominic Wheaton and Sue Horrocks as the components of two eventually happy couples. Anita Wheaton and Tony Rowlands are the Queen and King of the Faeries. Anne O'Connell, as Puck, shows why the adjective from that name embodies both kinetic energy and perspicacious humour.
Then there are the faeries of assorted sizes who really do flit through the woods with hardly a sound. The wee faeries especially deserve commendation for seeming totally absorbed in what is being said, though they themselves scarcely speak.
Colin Wilson is effective as Egeus, the father who is determined that his daughter should marry according to his wishes or pay the penalty. Other well-known names in the generally strong supporting cast include Malcolm Ellis, Chris Mann, Roger Carne, Peter Riley and Roland Stacey.
Rounding out the cast are Nisha Bismillah, who looks the part of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons; Stefan Wesolowski, Jonathan Stanton and Robert Henzell as the tradesmen who would be actors; from page A2
Jenny Rhymer, Annette Ashdown, Juliet Cumber, Lynne Firth, Catherine and Claire Anderson as the faeries.
Along with Peter Phillips and Cathy Peart, the production crew includes Peter Pasold, Penny Phillips, Anne Pasold, Pat Aitchison.
At the end of her programme notes, the director expresses her hope that audiences will enjoy the show. "If you don't, don't tell me," she adds; "Chances are I won't re"ceive it well."
But Gabrielle should not worry. Far more likely are the chances that she will be receiving accolades and thanks from theatre-goers and performers alike for making this experience happen.
Tickets may be reserved by phoning the ever cheerful and efficient Omeria Gordon at 949-5585. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $8.00 for children. Curtain both performances is for 7:30 pm.
