Shakespeare in Vancouver.

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
-- Puck: Act V, epilogue.

Thus ends Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. As one of Vancouver's famous summer attractions, Bard on the Beach is a Shakespeare festival that annually puts on four plays for an affordable cost of $30 per seat! In the past two summers I was involved with the other summer Vancouverian attraction, Theatre Under the Stars as a pit orchestra member, so I never had the chance to go see other theatrical productions in the city. Last weekend my friend Katherine and I went to go see Bard, and boy, was it great!

Shakespearean plays are every high school student's nightmare. You have to read it out loud in class, follow the rhymes and rhythms of its poetry, and try really hard to comprehend both the subtle and obvious literary going-ons that Shakespeare had so cleverly interwoven. Many people hold degrees specializing in Shakespeare, and so you tell yourself, how am I to understand these plays?? Essay questions are handed out and exams are administered, and when you're finally done with high school, all you want to do is never read another one of his plays...ever again. (Albeit, some kids do get hooked on it.)

I wouldn't place myself in the I-detested-Shakespeare category, but I certainly was no enthusiastic advocate. A Midsummer Night's Dream, furthermore, is one of the more difficult ones to follow. There are so many characters, to begin with! But Director Gibson did a phenomenal job putting together this show at Bard. I wouldn't want to describe it here in fear of meddling with its true wondrousness. The costumes and set were full of funk; artistic freedom in delivery was utilized but not abused; and awesome actors, especially the guy who performed Puck, the mischievous faery. I don't think I've laughed so hard for a long time. If you are in Vancouver, or if you are visiting Vancouver this summer, please please please go see it. Measure for Measure is supposed to be really good, too. The 2006 season of Bard on the Beach is on in Vanier Park until September 24th.