Silver Spring Stage ventures into the enchanted woods this month with a fresh adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Emma Hooks.
This marks the first Shakespeare production at the Stage in nearly a decade, with performances scheduled on weekends from April 12 to 28.
“It’s been 50 years since Midsummer was last staged at Silver Spring Stage!” exclaimed Hooks. “It’s time to bring it back!”
Hooks explores the relationship between the play’s original late-16th-century audience and modern viewers in her adaptation. “We are examining the age-old clash between generations, as well as the concept of magic from Shakespeare’s audiences’ perspective,” explained Hooks.
This relationship is central to Hooks’s vision. “The production has given me incredible freedom to stretch my imagination,” said Paul Brewster, who portrays Egeus and Snout. “It’s a captivating blend of Elizabethan and contemporary elements, a neat concept, like a magical Brigadoon.”
While the play is a classic produced numerous times, Anabel Milton, who plays Helena, believes its themes remain timeless. “When it comes to love, relationships, and passion, we still fall hard, make mistakes, and jump to conclusions, and it’s a beautiful, crazy, hilarious thing,” she said. “I love that we get to capture that in this play in a way that highlights how similar we all still are despite the differences in how we live today.”
“I have always admired Emma’s artistry and was super-excited to have the opportunity to be directed by her. She is so committed to her unique vision and storytelling that it ignites a passion and excitement to tell the story,” said Stephanie Ichniowski, who plays Hippolyta and Moth. “Also, the music is all bops.”
Tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream range from $23.25 to $26.25, fees included, and are available on Silver Spring Stage’s website.
Graphic Courtesy of Silver Spring Stage