Emma Rice’s first production as Artistic Director of the Shakespeare’s Globe officially opened last night – but have critics been saying about it?
The Guardian: *** Lyn Gardner wrote: “It’s a production likely to mature in emotional depth. As it is, it is an entertaining and rowdy night out in which Rice demonstrates that she understands the dynamic of the Globe and the groundlings demonstrate their willingness to go with her on a journey.”
The Independent: *** Paul Taylor found that: “If this often very funny production fails to impart a tingly sense of otherworldy spookiness, it’s not because of the casting (the self-styled “kamikaze” cabaret artiste, Meow Meow, is an outrageous success as Titania, losing everything but her tutu in her demeaning pitch at Bottom).”
The Evening Standard: **** Henry Hitchings was slightly more enthusiastic commenting: “this is an energetically populist show that fizzes with bright ideas.”
The Stage: **** Natasha Tripney said: “Emma Rice’s Globe debut is joyful, statement-making theatre.”
The Arts Desk: “Matter-of-fact in its diversity, and decisively engaging storytelling for the varied audience that populates the Globe, this is a promising start to a new regime. ”
The Telegraph: **** Dominic Cavendish summed it up by saying: “Much fun and games, then, but also seriousness, sadness, and troubling madness. The watching school-parties were transfixed. And I was too. Result!”
WhatsOnStage: **** Daisy Bowie-Sell thought the production was: “a total hoot, a ridiculously fun, riotous piece of work that focuses in on the timeless, hilarious stories which thread through the Bard’s play.”
The Upcoming:**** Georgie Cowan-Turner commented: “with this hilarious and highly engaging production the Bard continues to enthrall us all. The Globe’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream aims to “rock the ground” and it succeeds.”
Exeunt Magazine: “Instead of the insular, preservationist approach, this is a production made with modern and global perspectives at its heart. A welcome and beautiful start to a new era.”
The Reviews Hub: *** (half) “It deserves a successful run and legacy. It will infuriate the purist. But can we forget it’s Shakespeare and it’s at The Globe? If so, it’s just a great play that, with some edits, could be landmark. It’s not “Shakespeare” then, but a super night out.”
There Ought to be Clowns: “the scope of her ambition here is rather awesome in its boldness.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs at the Shakespeare’s Globe until the 11th September. For more information and to book tickets visit: http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on/globe-theatre/a-midsummer-nights-dream-2016.