‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Review: Coming Up Short

metroweekly.com:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has its moments — just not quite enough of them.It couldn’t have been easy moving from the intimate surrounds of the currently-indisposed Folger Theatre to the hanger-sized expanse of the National Building Museum, but it’s not just the unwieldly space that saps the production of the vision it needs to fly.The first problem is, undoubtedly, the choice to mike the actors.

It may seem essential considering the acoustics of the place, but the sound quality is poor enough to lose some of the articulation, and the yells and whistles are downright jarring.Not only is the language dulled, but even the witty updates — surely a feature of an accessible production like this — can also be hard to catch.

Audiences used to the vagaries of amplified productions may not care, but anyone expecting the Folger’s usual precision, clarity, and passion for Shakespeare’s language, will likely find it an unwelcome adjustment.Such technicalities aside, the bigger wobble here is the general lack of cohesion.

Midsummer‘s joy — and also its challenge — is the mingling of three worlds: the semi-sinister realm of the fairies; the quartet of amusingly star-crossed lovers; and the buffoonish villagers determined to put on a play.Tying these worlds together needs a powerful eye, and director Victor Malana Maog never quite captures a consistent mood.Taking the play down to its bare bones at 90 minutes is certainly part of it, but it’s the vibe that feels disjointed, making things feel more like a whirlwind tour than the immersive experience the play needs.