Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream

A bus too far? - First in an occasional series where I talk about events worth attending in the south of the borough. It'll also draw attention to my ongoing campaign for better public transport links - directions at the end for those who don't drive.

DARK FAIRIES: Oberon (Matt Fitzgerald) issues orders to
Puck (Steve Eagles)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Solihull Society of Arts, The Edge Theatre

Ooh er, Puck’s gone a bit punk rock.

In this adaptation, Shakespeare’s “shrewd and knavish” sprite swaggers around the stage like Billy Idol – he’s even got the bright blonde hair and trenchcoat.

From the moment he appears on the balcony above the audience, it’s a performance that makes perfect sense.

After all, this is the story of young lovers running off to the woods and falling under the influence of some mysterious flower.

When you’ve got the sex and drugs, why wouldn’t you top it off with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll!

The musical influence continues a theme for the society, who have previously introduced us to a Kurt Cobain-inspired Hamlet and a version of Romeo and Juliet which riffed on the works of David Bowie.

The simple set – hung with just a handful of dangling bulbs – means that almost all of your attention is on the characters. And what a colourful bunch they are (figuratively speaking, as the fairies in particular favour rather darker outfits).

In fact in the programme Oberon and co are referred to as “shadows”, which somewhat sets the tone for a more sinister, sexually-charged set of beings. Delicate little things with wings these are most definitely not.

It’s almost unfair to say who steals the show. Puck (Steve Eagles) may be the headline act, but the fey fellow’s run very close by Chris Cooper’s brilliantly Brummie Bottom.

All-in-all, directors Thom Faulkner and Bethany Hughes have delivered a first rate take on one of the Bard’s best-loved comedies.
I only hope they can be persuaded to make this “a trilogy of four parts” having shown so categorically that small societies can do the great plays justice.

Destination: Edge Theatre, Alderbrook School
Fastest Route (from Castle Bromwich centre): The quickest one-bus route would be to walk to Smith's Wood and catch the No 966 to Solihull Station. From there, walk another 15 minutes to Blossomfield Road. Total journey time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.
Any way back? Yes, buses do continue to run into the evening.
Verdict: Fair bit of walking, but taking a bus to Solihull town centre and then catching another down to the school wouldn't be simple either.