Imagine stepping into a forest where love is as wild as the mischievous fairies dancing between the shadows. That’s exactly what CET delivered in their amazing production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – a theatrical rollercoaster that had me grinning from ear to ear.
The story starts with Duke Theseus: as he’s preparing for his wedding to Hippolyta, he faces an urgent family dispute. Egeus, a courtier, demands the duke’s daughter Hermia marry Demetrius, though her heart belongs to a gentleman named Lysander. The Duke’s ultimatum is harsh: marry Demetrius, face death, or live as a nun. Desperate, Hermia and Lysander plan to escape Athens under cover of night.
Their plan tangles further when Hermia tells her friend Helena, who’s hopelessly in love with Demetrius. Helena, hoping to win Demetrius’s favor, tells him about the lovers’ escape plan, and soon enough, all four young Athenians are lost in the forest – Hermia and Lysander fleeing together, with Demetrius pursuing them and Helena chasing after him.
The forest is far from empty. Oberon, the fairy king, has just quarreled with his queen Titania and plots revenge with a magical love potion that makes anyone fall madly in love with the first creature they see. He sends his mischievous servant Puck to fetch this flower, unwittingly setting the stage for a night of chaos.
Soon after, Oberon catches Demetrius cruelly rejecting Helena in the forest. Taking pity on her, he orders Puck to use the love flower on “the Athenian,” but Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius. When Lysander wakes, he falls madly in love with Helena instead of Hermia. Oberon then uses the potion on Demetrius too, leaving both men suddenly infatuated with Helena—and poor Hermia completely forgotten.
Comedy is the true heart of this production. CET throws out the dusty textbook approach, instead showing Shakespeare’s comedy with raw, unbridled energy. Physical comedy takes center stage, with actors using every muscle to breathe life into the story. There’s minimal music, and when there is, it’s never overwhelming the language but enhancing the atmosphere instead.
Each performer on the stage plays a vital role in how the production plays as a whole. The cast’s background reactions and subtle character work create a rich, living story, and CET delivers this flawlessly. Even during the final play, when the four lovers aren’t the main focus, they’re still cracking up, hugging each other when scared, gasping and jumping with infectious enthusiasm.
CET might not have Broadway’s resources, but they’ve got something far better: boundless creativity and a genuine love for storytelling. If you think Shakespeare is dusty or difficult, this production will change your mind faster than Puck can cast a love spell.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” is a total blast – Shakespeare’s world brought to life with so much energy and fun. CET nails it, turning a small stage into something way bigger than its size.
