We all need to dream. And Bay Theatre Players would like everyone to come and dream with them in a wood near Athens.
The wood is part of the setting for William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, BTP’s first production for 2018.
And, because part of The Dream is a play within a play, Act Three allows the audience to look on as a company of actors begin to rehearse their own play.
“Are we all met?” asks the famous Bottom. To which company leader, Peter Quince replies, “Pat, pat; and here's a marvellous convenient place for our rehearsal,” to which Bottom responds, “If that may be, then all is well. Come, sit down every mother's son, and rehearse your parts.”
As the reader will see, the Elizabethan English makes this a fairly challenging project for the cast who must master the bard’s writings quickly to present this, one of his best known plays.
Director, Sam Lloyd describes The Dream as a tale of crossed love, futile quarrels, fairy spells and strange transformations belonging to the magical night that is Midsummer Eve.
She says, “it is time to meet and time to dream. Come one, come all, come all those who wish to take part”.
BTP has been holding regular Shakespeare readings during 2017 and 2018.
The most recent of these, Cymbeline has now given way to The Dream, of which there will be a reading at the Playhouse Theatre on Sunday, November 12, at 2pm.
The reading will continue on Sunday, November 19, when audition and production information will be made available and audition times for the following Sunday, November 26, will be arranged.
“All who are interested in being a part of this production should attend the theatre on one or both days to reacquaint themselves with the story, the language, the fun and friendships,” Sam said. There are only two more play readings for 2017, starting with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on November 15, at 7pm at the Playhouse.
The story tells of a 15-year-old autistic boy who is incredibly intelligent yet woefully ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing the neighbour’s dog he sets out to find the real culprit.
And, the final youth play reading of the year, on Sunday, November 19, at 2pm, also at the Playhouse, will be The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, a super funny Dr Seuss story which will ensure everyone has a great time eating, laughing and enjoying their Christmas cheer.
For further information please call Tay Mugridge on 0419 127 679.
