Weird Sisters’ Fresh Take On A Midsummer Night’s Dream
For their 8th annual Summer 2011 performance, Austin’s all-female Weird Sisters Women’s Theatre Collective chose Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Although co-directors Susan Gayle Todd and Christa French have spent a lot of time with the play in the past, they say they still feel challenged by it. And it’s easy to see why when you consider that this version of AMND has been tweaked to feature a lesbian couple, Hermia and Lysandra, in lieu of the traditional play’s hetero lovers.
“When we choose a play, we’re always looking through a feminist lens,” says Susan. “This is a commentary on gay marriage but it’s still a comedy.”
Krista says that while cross-gender casting is common in Shakespeare performances, women tend to be overlooked for roles of warrior-types.
But you wouldn’t know it from seeing Weird Sister Hollie Baker’s Lysandra threaten Demetrius. Baker did a superb job with her character’s leaps from tender proposal to fighting words to love potion ravings. Her romantic counter-part, Hermia’s Leslie Guerrero Collins, struggled at the play’s outset but soon found her footing in melodramatic scenes. For example, Hermia’s catfight with friend Helena was a hilarious sight to see and her portrayal of heartbreak was genuinely funny and well done. On the other hand, Rachel Briles, who played Helena, was a challenge to hear throughout the evening. She performed with great passion that allowed for near-constant laughter. But her unclear delivery of lines was difficult to understand for all but the most seasoned Shakespeare veterans.
Rae Petersen performed with ample strength required for Oberon, king of the fairies. Christa French’s Titania was both graceful confident, her experience with the theatre program Shakespeare At Winedale evident. Courtney Glenn absolutely shined as the hobgoblin Puck and was easily the star of the Thursday evening premier.
Still, the secondary characters were not easily overlooked. Vicki Yoder’s Nick Bottom kept audience members in stitches throughout the night and her fellow rude mechanical friends were quirky and fun. Indeed, Margaux Binder gave the funniest impersonation of a wall I’ve ever seen.
The Weird Sisters Collective’s rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was all in all a good time and a fun, fresh take on a traditional favourite of theatre fans. Performances will be held August 18-21 and 25-27 at 8pm in the eastside’s intimate Center Stage Texas theatre. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the door on a sliding scale from $10 to $30.
—By Hillary-Anne Crosby, Vagina Editor-In-Chief
(Poster Design by Alyson Curtis, Courtesy of Weird Sisters Women’s Theatre Collective)
