By Catherine Ellerton

Moapa Valley Progress

Utah Shakespeare Festival brought its travelling production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Logandale on February 13. Photo by Catherine Ellerton.

Once again the Utah Shakespeare Festival has taken the immortal words of The Bard and woven them into a stunning tapestry at the Ron Dalley Theatre on Monday night, February 13.

Several elements of these annual productions consistently come off amazingly.

Firstly – The stage design is always so unique and colorful. This roving minstrel show is on the road for over three months and entertains in schools and communities in four states. Thus the sets must be functional, help to enhance the story and easy to move. This production chose very colorful, simple flats that could be rolled around on the stage adding an ever-changing pattern. This matched the quickly developing story of jealousy, conniving, dislike and love.

Secondly – The high level of stage energy that is always maintained throughout the tale. These actors each take on at least three totally different roles. In addition they act as stage hands and quick change artists. The timing was amazing to watch. From a comical stage fight to flats being moved in concert with actors moving from reality to the fairy world and back again; all this was seemingly accomplished in a split second.

And thirdly – while all of the above is going on, the skill of these artists was remarkable. The simple nuances of Kristen Henley as the mischievous Puck brought a whole different flavor to the role by the constant undulation of her arms. Is Puck mischievous? Or is Puck devious?

Christina Flynn, Will Mobley, Anatasha Blakely, Ron Thomas and Jennifer Whipple, although memorable in the other roles they took on, this group was highly entertaining and the roles well acted during their sojourn as the actors. Rounding out this talented group of thespians was Jeremy Minagro as Thesus and Oberon.

It is amazing that these actors from across the United States come together and, in only three weeks have learned how to work with each other in such close harmony.

This tale of good intentions gone bad still poses the question of “Is love real or is it controlled by the woodland fairies?”