OSF part 1: Midsummer

Came home from Ashland yesterday, where Daniel and I saw Midsummer, The Clay Cart, Comedy of Errors and Othello. So here is my first review:

Midsummer was fantastic. I never really liked the show, although enjoyed my high school's superbly cast and designed version senior year, but this show blew me out of the water- 2 hours and 41 minutes of pure enjoyment and hilarity. The director is listed as Mark Rucker, although it seems necessary to quote this blog entry which writes "rumor says he left town before he blocked and Festival Artistic Director Bill Rauch stepped in". So I'll credit Rucker for the concept and Rauch for the follow-through and focus on everyone else.

For photos of the production, go here.
Walt Spangler created a brilliant, versatile set that wove us in and around the forest full of climbing and perches and flower beds straight out of the 70s. He had lots of help from lighting designer Robert Peterson, who added stars made of blacklights and flourescent baubles to set the full atmosphere.
Costume designer Katherine Roth also had a clear design concept: the lovers, beginning in various shades of white, became progressively less clothed and more colorful as they became enveloped in the woods. The fairies were men in tutus, sparkles, fishnets and boots, who would steal clothing from all those who entered the woods and would break out into dance during the scene changes.

John Tufts, who I will mention in other reviews, is one of the most versatile, watchable actors I have seen in a while. I remember him as the fifteen year-old in Up from the 2006 season- and in the last four days I saw him play Puck, a stage-coach driver in the Clay Cart and Dromio from Syracuse in Comedy of Errors. I loved watching him as Puck, because he commanded our attention the entire show.
And while in general I find Hermia completely obnoxious, Emily Sophia Knapp has incredible comedic timing, and suddenly all of those old scenes and monologues I've grown to hate had new life to them. But she should never dye her hair blonde.

Overall, it was a sexy, funny romp and I sincerely recommend it to anyone who might be headed to Ashland in the near future.