REVIEW: Smith Street Stage’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Perhaps no other season has more of a claim to Shakespeare than summer.  You no doubt know about Shakespeare in the Park, the Public Theatre’s celebrated tradition of free performances in Central Park that began in 1954, and maybe you’ve even heard of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, the decidedly more Brooklyn version launched in 1995.  But chances are that you, like me, have not heard of Shakespeare in Carroll Park, Smith Street Stage’s performances in Brooklyn’s Carroll Park (right off the Carroll Street F and G Subway stop), celebrating their ninth annual season this year.  Tickets are free and best of all, there’s no line.  This summer’s offering is one of the Bard’s most sumptuous and magical comedies: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.  Performed by a diverse ensemble of 17 players for an intimate crowd of people of all ages and backgrounds, this is low budget Shakespeare—some benches, a few props, light costumes, and on/off lighting—but director Jonathan Hopkins serves up a fresh and funny vision brimming with spectacular performances (notably Corey Whelihan as Nick Bottom) by a uniformly talented cast in an enchanting, urban atmosphere.  The cool night I attended I watched the play unfold mere feet from my folding chair seat through flights of lightening bugs and a few bouts of gentle rain.  Joe Papp was on to something when he first dreamed of doing Shakespeare in public parks; there is nothing like it.  This sublime and joyful production plays Carroll Park through Sunday evening, then resumes, indoors and for a fee, at The Actors Fund Arts Center on July 11th.  Check it out.

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“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Smith Street Stage
at Carroll Park (Carroll Stop off F & G) June 20th-July 1st (free)
and Mark O'Donnell Theater, The Actors Fund Arts Center (160 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201) July 11th-15th (tickets)

Running Time: 2 hours (no intermission)
Opening Night: June 22, 2018
Final Performance: July 15, 2018