A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre

[dutchman]

THE hissing, gothic-like fairies look like they have escaped from a Twilight movie and are ready to chomp on the necks of the people sitting in the front rows.



It’s a dark start to the Bard’s romantic comedy ... and then Bottom turns up.

Comedy performer Marc Wootton is a crazed, booming, larger-than-life Bottom who turns into a hay-loving, hairy donkey with remarkable ease.

He is every am-dram nightmare rolled into one as he offers a Bottom who knows he is destined to be a star and acts like the ultimate luvvie to prove it.

Marc’s Bottom is brash, loud and boastful and slapstick funny. He literally throws himself about the stage to keep the laughter coming.

Lucy Briggs-Owen also keeps the comedy flowing as the wonderfully lovesick Helena.

Her toe-curling embarrassing attempts to get her man and her wails of anguish when she finds herself with not one but two besotted suitors hits just the right comedy note.

Jo Stone-Fewings watches over the romantic mayhem with a wry eye as both Theseus and Oberon, but Arsher Ali does not quite deliver the mischievous naughtiness of Puck.

Director Nancy Meckler’s production gets off to a slow start, but stick with it. You’ll be roaring with laughter by the end. Bottom’s up.

Until November 5. Running time 2hrs 50mins.