Midsummer Mechanicals

The Olivier Award nominated Midsummer Mechanicals is back for Summer 2023 at The Globe, but before opening in London the show has completed a very limited run at Shakespeare North Playhouse.

Set one year after the mechanicals performed Pyramus and Thisbe, Nick Bottom (Kerry Frampton) and Peter Quince (Jamal Frankin) are trying to get the group back together to perform a new show. Unfortunately, the script isn’t complete, Francis Flute (Sam Glen) has gone through puberty which poses a problem for him to play the female roles, and Tom Snout isn’t available so his wife Patience (Melody Brown) has decided to take his place, but as a female she legally can’t perform. With just 45 minutes until the Duke and Duchess arrive for the premiere of “The Adventures of the Weaver and the Fairy Queen”, the quartet have no choice but to try and make it work.

This is a truly hilarious production aimed at introducing children to Shakespeare, but the show contains more than enough self-referential humour and panto style interactions / multi-level jokes to keep adults invested.

The first act reminded us of The Play That Goes Wrong, with lots of funny one-liners and crossed wires as the troupe attempt to finalise the play and who will play which role. The second act is the actual performance of the new show, with the audience providing sound effects, insults for the Fairy King and The Weaver to throw at each other, and even snowballs.

This show is visually stunning. The Cockpit Theatre was completely transformed for the second act, with a variety of ribbons being hoisted as bunting and a floral backdrop added to the front of the partially completed ‘frons scenae’. The costuming was also beautiful and added to the visual charm of the show. Even the wigs and beards used by Frampton as Bottom and Brown when playing the Fairy King were exquisite.

Another element that added to the visual spectacular of the show was the use of the space. The different doors onto the stage, the Juliet balcony, and even trapdoors that we didn’t realise existed were utilised to their fullest. You could never be sure where a cast member would appear from next, especially within the lower seating of The Cockpit as the cast moved between stage and seating areas throughout.

With such a small cast, stating that everyone delivered a superb performance feels slightly redundant as there is nowhere to hide on the stage, but the switching from script to interactions with children who, let’s face it, are completely unpredictable, was effortless. As well as delivering perfect comedic farce, the cast also play instruments and sing throughout this show. Impeccable performances throughout, with Sam Glen in particular having a impressive and powerful voice. In the performance we watched, Sam Glen was slightly too energetic for his costume. In delivering one of Francis Flute’s “I’m amazing” poses, at least one button pinged off his costume and flew across the stage, but he perfectly incorporated this into his delivery and throughout the rest of the performance.

The comedic antics are perfectly paced throughout, and we were in pain from laughing. Writers Kerry Frampton and Ben Hales have created a perfect introduction to Shakespeare that is flamboyant, chaotic and absolutely brilliant.

The show was on for a limited run at Shakespeare North Playhouse from 15th to 18th July, but will run from 1st to 26th August at the Sam Wannamaker Playhouse at The Globe.

Originally posted: July 19, 2023