‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is at the Denver Center through Sept. 2
There’s a scene in the second act of Phamaly Theatre Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream where Puck (Emma Maxfield) mischievously pokes one of the buttons on the wheelchair of Keenan Gluck — who plays Lysander — to lay him back out of the way.
It’s not uncommon for the disability-affirmative theatre company to include a gag or two like this in a show, but since 1989, Phamaly has been asking audiences to focus not on the actors’ disabilities but on their talent as thespians. For this show — Phamaly’s first full Shakespeare production — director Shelly Gaza assembled a fantastic cast of Phamaly regulars and newcomers to perform one of the Bard’s most accessible plays in one of the best venues in Colorado to do so: the Denver Center’s in-the-round Kilstrom Theatre.
Read Toni Tresca’s piece about this production in the Boulder Weekly
This Midsummer’s has the actors in 1920s garb, adding a layer of playfulness to an already playful play about four lovers running off to a magical forest in Athens to work out their differences. There’s a subplot involving a group of actors who are meant to perform at the upcoming wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, and mixed in with all that a forest full of meddling fairies who enjoy toying with the humans.
Heading up the fairy contingent is Puck, played with maximum esprit de sprite by Maxfield. A Phamaly first-timer but an actor well known on Colorado stages, Maxfield is a magnificent Puck, bouncing in and out of scenes with a dancer’s athleticism and a fierce determination to stir shit up wherever she goes. It’s the kind of performance that makes the audience always eager to see the actor appear again.
Emma Maxfield as Puck | Photo: RDGPhotography
Gaza makes good use of the Kilstrom’s space, using minimal, easily moveable set pieces to give the actors plenty of room. This is particularly helpful for Gluck, whose skillful maneuvering of his wheelchair really adds to his performance as he pursues his true object of desire Hermia (Kennedy Isaac) and works to manage his fairy-induced love for Helena (Madison Stout).
Laurice (Penny Quince – with stage light) with Madison Stout as Helena and Graham Bryant as Demetrius. | Photo: RDGPhotography
Isaac is a joy in the role of Hermia, a petite spitfire perpetually baffled by what’s going on around her but determined to unite with Lysander. As Helena, Stout is also terrific as yet another confused lover who finds herself crossways with Hermia over the whole Lysander situation.
Other standouts include B. Ryan Glick as both fairy king Oberon and Duke of Athens Theseus and Maggie Whittum playing both Titania, the fairy queen, and Hippolyta, the Amazon queen. I also enjoyed the depiction of Hermia’s other suitor, Demetrius, by Graham Bryant and Laurice Quinn as Penny Quince. Many of the supporting roles are fully realized performances, creating a well-rounded, colorful environment that’s always moving and vibrant.
The production also benefits from the 1920s costumes by Timothy Cortez — and audience members are encouraged to show up in their own period clothing if they so wish.
Phamaly Theatre productions always leave me feeling inspired by the determination and talent of these actors, but this one in particular really stood out as an amazing accomplishment that will go down as one of the best things Phamaly has ever done. And if ticket prices for other DCPA shows give you pause, this is a great opportunity to catch a winner for only $40.
Maggie Whittum as Titania with Ratt Walsh as Bottom | Photo: RDGPhotography
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