Sunday, June 21: Midsummer Night’s Dream
The Celts considered this day to be midsummer, so it would surely be a good day to celebrate Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream! It could be fun to invite several friends over, assign parts, and have everyone read it out loud. However, if your friends are shy or just not the thespian type, there are several versions of the play on DVD. Arguably, the most famous version of it came out in 1935, with James Cagney (who is generally remembered for playing gangsters) as Bottom and a very young Mickey Rooney as Puck. If you’re not into old movies, you can go for the more recent (1999) version with Kevin Kline as Bottom, Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania, and Rupert Everett as Oberon. Feel free to post any reviews of these movies (or other versions!) in the comments section. If you’re feeling intellectual, you can use this link www.theatrehistory.com/british/fairies_of_midsummer.html to read a truly fascinating essay from the early 1800’s about the faeries in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Happy midsummer, and never forget Puck’s famous words -- “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
--Joelle Mellon
I haven't seen the 1935 version. But I love the 1999 version. I love Shakespeare, and this one is my favorite of his plays. In middle school (I think) I read the part of Helena.
ReplyDeleteMy boys love watching Zach and Cody, and they did a spoof on this play. In the episode, the kids are in a play and they aren't paired with the girls they like. So the themes exist in the play and in the kids lives. It is a great representation of the play and a lot easier for kids to understand than he actual play.
*is going to read the link when I get a chance*
Brightest Blessings,
Aine