“Lord, what fools these mortals be.”
The line, perhaps one of the most well-known of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, brought smiles of recognition to the crowd that turned out Saturday night at Mitchell Park in Greenport for a production of the show presented by the Northeast Stage.
Amie Sponza, president of Northeast Stage, said it was the third time the group performed the play since the company was formed 30 years ago. “Each performance is a little bit different and each time, it’s magical,” she said.
The show was a stand-out with stellar performances by Jose Coropuna as Lysander, Dory Lieblein as Hermia, John Higgins as Demetrius, and Lena Trbojevic as Helena.
Also delivering laugh-out loud moments were Alan Stewart as Nick Bottom and Rich Gardini as a mischievous, masterful Puck who delighted the crowd, Kevin Monsell as Peter Quince, Dan Horton as Francis Flute, Cate Clifford as Tom Snout, Ed Weiss as Robin Starveling, and James Pritchard as Snug.
Oberon was played to perfection by John Tramontana, and Titania, as portrayed by Rebekah White, was memorable.
The fairies, Erin Elizabeth, Sarah Rose Gogan, and Elisabeth Wilson, infused the show with the lighthearted magic and dreamlike quality that enchanted the rapt audience.
Directed by Robert L.S. Wilson, assistant directed by Cate Clifford, produced by Tracy Austin, with stage management by Sarah Prato, costume design and construction by Joan Chambers, sound and lighting by Joe Capuano, and set design by Robert L.S. Wilson, the show, set by the Greenport harbor on a beautiful July night, was a crowd pleaser, one of the finest outdoor performances of Shakespeare on the East End in recent memory.
The last performance of the show will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. In case of rain, the show will be moved into the Greenport High School auditorium. The show is free; donations are appreciated.
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