The adaptation process becomes even less plausible when taking the play by none other than Shakespeare, whose inimitable artistic style makes his works both relatable and very difficult to shape to fit the modern discourse. However, the 2019 Globe Theatre staging of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” directed by Dale Neill has shown that, by shifting the mood and the tone to make them blend the traditional classic with the Art Nouveau style, one can imbue the play with new implicit nuances while retaining the authorial intent intact.
The staging and lighting used in the described rendition of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are pretty impressive. While being quite essential, they incorporate a unique color scheme and lighting, which transforms the scenes in the forest from traditionally dark and gloomy to colorful while retaining the initial impression of mystery and wonder. The characters are bright and lively, each being dressed in costumes that allow outlining their uniqueness yet do not distract from the play. One could argue that the customers could have been done more masterfully, yet their basic outlines convey the sense of naiveté and simplicity that makes the space incredibly charming.
However, the tone and the mood that it sets are noticeably different from the ones that the original play is expected to develop. While “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is scheduled to be a lighthearted mischievous tale, it contains hints at losing control over one’s passion and the outcomes to which this loss may eventually lead (Pickering, 2016). The Globe Theatre representation of the play, in turn, amplifies the identified ideas, placing them at the forefront of the narrative. As a result, lightheartedness is balanced with the sense of emotional strain, which adds to the tension within the story and the depth of its impact. The tonal differences are created with the help of changes in lighting and changes in the actors’ performance, which ranges from explicitly nonchalant to emotionally charged (Globe Theatre, 2016). The play embodies the perfect balance between the somber and the lighthearted elements of its plotlines, keeping the audience invested despite being an extraordinarily well-known piece.
There are also certain parts of the play that are easier understood through the actors’ performance. For example, the changes in the pacing of the play, while feeling somewhat forced in certain parts, seemed an overall interesting tool for revisiting the space. The emotionality of the actors’ delivery was the critical factor that defined a difference in perception. Throughout the performance, several details stood out, the changes in the lighting as the leading indicator of shifts in the tone and mood being the key ones (Globe Theatre, 2016). Overall, the play left a sense of curiosity and the urge to search for new ways of interpreting Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
With an elaborate choice of stylistic devices, settings, costumes, and subtle changes in the acting technique, the rendition of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” staged at the Globe Theater in 2019 introduced its audience to a new version of the traditional plot and inspired new ideas. The delicate changes to the original play were balanced enough to keep the original message yet managed to create a unique mood that allows emphasizing the darker aspects of the space.
References
Globe Theatre. (2019). Globe Theatre: A midsummer night’s dream [Video file]. Web.
Pickering, K. (2016). Shakespeare: “A midsummer night’s dream.” New York, NY: Macmillan International Higher Education.