Reader Reviews
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Rose Theatre Kingston, Kingston)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Saw MND last night, and was delighted at how funny it was! Although Dame Judi is not on stage for very long, her skill at portraying a woman hopelessly in love with a donkey was amazing - it was tender and convincing. The comedy of the mechanicals drew much laughter from the audience. The Rose deserves to do well: it's a great theatre, and we are lucky to have it in Kingston. - Jane Anderson | 12 Mar 10 |
| The opportunity to see Dame Judi Dench, possibly in her last Shakespearean role, has brought the crowds floocking to Kingston. Casting her as Titania is a bit odd and she's on stage for about as much time as when she won an Oscar, also for playing Elizabeth I, but it is a genuine privelege to see a truly great actress bringing such genius to her verse speaking and interpretation of the role. Dame Judi's presence and Sir Peter Hall's brilliant direction make this a brilliant Dream but unfortunately I've always found the scenes with the fairies and even the mechanicals a bit tiresome and here we are treated to a particularly irritating Puck. Charles Edwards though is a superb Oberon but it is the scenes with the four lovers which are especially memorable. Rachael Stirling as Helena has the most opportunity to shine but Anabel Scholey, Tam Williams and Ben Mansfield are equally fine. A very minimalist stage design does little to create the atmosphere of fairyland but, even if Dream is not greatly to my taste, this is a memorable production due to an exceptional cast. - David Baxter | 07 Mar 10 |
| This production is not worthy of five stars by any standards! It was a lack lustre effort from Peter Hall. Sure it had its moments, but overall it never took off and it looked dull - it had no spark. The Dame did her bit to get things going, but what else would one expect of such a professional. Clearly, she was there to fill seats and she certainly did that at today's matinee. It looked drab on that rather bleak stage. Mr Hall seems to have lost his touch over recent years. It is a sell out show, I believe, but it ain't worthy of it. Never the less it will certainly help the Rose to continue running, but it must now match that success with productions that are deserving of five star ratings. - rds | 03 Mar 10 |
| The superb Rose theatre, clear diction and believable characters provided the foundation for this stellar performance. Judi Dench was supported by a magnificent cast - all of them in career defining performances. Puck and Bottom, Hermia & Helena and Lysander Demtrius exuded credibility - each of them characters you cared for. The true humour of the script grabbed the audience as it seldom does. A joy and privilege. - Charles Waller | 22 Feb 10 |
| A fantastic privilege to see Judi Dench play Titania - her performance was exquisite. But all the rest of the cast were very fine, with Helena, Bottom and Puck especially good. Throughout, the verse was spoken wonderfully. Certainly the best Dream I have ever seen - I wish now I had bought tickets for two performances! - Huw | 18 Feb 10 |
| Lovely, brilliant, the best Dream I have seen. Loved it - get tickets whatever they cost. Enjoy a sublime performance - Titania, Bottom, Helena, Hermia and Peter Quince were just brilliant - heartfelt performances that brought the text alive! Wonderful!! - Sarah | 18 Feb 10 |
| Fantastic evening - great to see a production that uses verse and not probs. Dame Judi is wonderful - Kevin Q | 16 Feb 10 |
