Sunday, July 10, 2022

Synetic Theater: A Midsummer Night's Dream

 Synetic Theater's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is a re-staging of their 2015 production with the same set designs and costumes.  I didn't see the original, but I can't imagine that this production is just a hand-me-down.  It was vibrant, passionate, a little cheeky at times and choke full of the sort of amazing physicality that is the hallmark of Synetic Theater's style of wordless interpretations of works from the global canon of classic literature.  

The stage was simple with a "forest" of hose trees that glowed yellow rising the height of the stage.  Like neon jail bars they held the moon captive.  The players costumes were an eclectic mix of ideas.  The troop of players dressed like 1930's hobos, while the lovers and their entourage were attired in a mix somewhere between contemporary men's suites and 1820's women's ball gowns.  The fairy king and queen looked like Hindu gods.  It worked like dreams work, filled with inconsistencies that rarely feel out of place in real time.

No week legs on the table of the cast.  The introduction of Titania and Oberon in a night of love making that produces the impish Puck was really an ingenious hook, not the least of which was the beautifully sexy Philip Fletcher who played Oberon.  He was match pheromone to pheromone by Stella Bunch's Titania.  Other standout's includedVato Tsikurishvili's portrayal of Bottom/Egeus.  The son of the company's founders, I've seem him one before in the role of the Quasimoto.  I cried then...this afternoon, I laughed!  Finally, Ariel Kraje must be lauded for her performance as Puck.  The irascible prankster.  She embodied the spirit, and her playful demeanor spoke volumes.  The challenge of acting without speaking must be part of thrill of performing in a Synetic production.

The Synetic Theater was founded by Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili, emigrants from the nation of Georgia where this form of theater has been performed for centuries.  As some of the photos from their press packet indicate, you have to be an acrobat of sorts to excel in this form of theater.  The actors' bodies must say the things their words are not allowed to.  It's a very exciting form of theater, and I have never been disappointed by a show yet.  

The opening scene with Oberon (Phillip Fletcher) and Titania (Stella Bunch)

Titania (Stella Bunch)

Puck (Ariel Kraje)

Quince (Nathan Weinberger)

Lysander (Lev Belolipetski) and Demetrius (Aaron Kan)

Background: Tom (Bengt-Erik Nelson) and Smug (Pablo Guillen)
Foreground: Bottom (Vato Tsikurishvili) and Snout (Josh Lucas)

Peaseblossom (Allie Zagorski) in the beautiful golden fairy costume





No comments:

Post a Comment