Eugene Weekly : Theater : 05.25.06

Herding Lovers

UO takes on Shakespearean comedy.

BY DAN HOYT

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of those plays where you start laughing early and then keep on laughing even if you barely have a clue what the actors are saying. But are words really all that meaningful when the emotions they are conveying, such as love, are stronger? Well, since the UO is putting on the latest interpretation of this play, that's obviously something they want us to ponder.

"I hope with this production to highlight what I think are important questions dear to Shakespeare's poetic imagination," says Director John Schmor. "In love, where is the boundary between the real and the imagined? Is love a dream or a wakening?"

The comedy begins with a tenuous love polygon — I say polygon because the relationships change constantly — of Demetrius (Jared McLean), Hermia (Margaret Moore), Lysander (Stevo Clay) and Helena (Lilli Turner).

And what would a love story be without older control freaks? Joseph Oyala and Caitlin Anderson have excellent chemistry in their roles as Theseus and Hippolyta, respectively. The duo also do double duty as the fairy monarchs Titania and Oberon. They play tricks on each other, a group of wayward actors and the previously stated polygon members with the help of their goat friend, Puck (Sergio A. Martinez).

Speaking of Martinez, he steals every scene he's in. Regardless of whether he dons a Matrix-style jacket and quietly paces around as Philostrate or dances to a folk music soundtrack in a pair of frilly brown M.C. Hammer pants and yells "Baa!" all the time as Puck, he is the show's star, no doubt about it.

I was extremely pleased with the performance, and though Shakespeare's script can be baffling at times, the cast knows exactly how to take the stage with their emotion and energy rather than just talking back and forth. It's a hilarious romp through the quintessential romantic comedy of all time.

A Midsummer Night's Dream runs May 25, 26 & 27 and June 2 and 3 at 8 pm, and June 4 at 2 pm at the Robinson Theatre. Call 346-4191 or 346-4363 for tickets.