A Midsummer Night's Dream at First Folio Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...The pace does feel a bit slack from time to time, especially in the first act. That's something that often happens in my experiences with this play - there's a long set-up in the front end that, while enjoyable, can feel a little bit wheel-spinning from time to time. Fortunately, the payoffs in the second act deliver in a pretty big way. Germaine's Puck and Mitchell's Oberon have their own delicious give-and-take. Elsa Hiltner's clever costumes delineate the differences between Athens-by-Way-of-Elizabethan-England and the fairy forest. Angela Weber Miller's set includes a couple of stage-floor exits that resemble wishing wells, into which Germaine's seductive Puck disappears (sometimes with another fairy in tow for what is undoubtedly some naughty business)."

Daily Herald - Recommended

"...First Folio Theatre's current outdoor production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" isn't the most unified or daring in terms of approach. But the performances of the well-loved material are solid, even if some actors don't draw the drama as deeply from the text as they could."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Elements of this oft-produced summer comedy work like a dream-Elsa Hiltner's costumes are a delight. But the show is marred by miscasting (Michael Joseph Mitchell, for example, is too weak to be either Theseus or Oberon, but might have made a killer Peter Quince) and too many over-the-top comic performances. And of the four lovers at the center of the play, only Sarah Wisterman, as the frequently put-upon Hermia, performs with the kind of passion that makes the Bard's lines soar."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...There have been several productions associated with the Shakespeare 400 Festival in Chicago which commented on or heavily adapted Shakespeare’s works, and those are good for people who have long been his fans. But for a straightforward production of one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, First Folio’s Midsummer is a wise pick."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...I love seeing Shakespeare under the stars. With its forest setting, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is an ideal choice for First Folio’s 20th anniversary on the outdoor stage. Nay-sayers aside, we know that Shakespeare doesn’t have to be heavy going. In fact, Director Hayley Rice’s light-hearted approach had the audience chuckling. I don’t mind admitting that I was laughing too!"