A Midsummer Night's Dream: Shakespeare's Globe on Tour Bodleian LIbrary,Oxford (From The Oxford Times)

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Shakespeare's Globe on Tour Bodleian LIbrary,Oxford

1:54pm Wednesday 28th July 2010 in

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A wet bottom: there were two possibilities of acquiring one at the Shakespeare’s Globe touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, being presented outdoors in the venerable surroundings of the Bodleian Library’s Old Schools Quadrangle. First, there was a heavy shower just before the opening night performance, so each seat had collected an individual puddle. But problem solved: the Oxford Playhouse, which is presenting the show, handed out paper mopping-up towels.

The second possibility was that the Globe might present a Bottom wet of character. But wet he is not, thanks to Oxfordshire actor William Mannering. His Bottom is a departure from the oft-observed country bumpkin thrust on to the stage: this is plainly a very ambitious actor, anxious to be thought of as a Great Comedy Professional. He is forever leaping about, shouting, and generally drawing attention to himself — altogether he is a director’s nightmare. But you don’t half laugh at him.

Plenty of opportunities remain for the rest of the ensemble cast, however, for director Raz Shaw plays Dream as a quicksilver, out and out farce. There’s much physicality, and sex often bubbles close to the surface — Helena (Louise Ford) boots Hara Yannas’s vivacious Hermia resoundingly up the backside in order to get her attention as she lies steamily interlocked with Lysander, this being a foretaste of many similar moments to come. Soon testosterone-fuelled Lysander and Demetrius (Mark Quartley and Leon Williams), their tanned chests already bared to the evening air, are simultaneously kissing Helena, one advancing up her left arm, the other up her right. Helena has the greatest difficulty in keeping a straight face.

Meanwhile, Oberon (Simon Merrells) and Titania (Jasmine Hyde) must try to remain aloof — Titania does this by presenting herself as every inch the black-clad business executive. Lower down in the fairy world, some may miss the lack of magic or Victorian whimsy, for Puck (a star performance from Bethan Walker) sports short black sparkling pants and a cigarette in a long holder: she plainly hails from the German Weimar cabaret world, and if you’re sitting in the front row you may well find her perching on your knee.

This could all be very tacky, but in fact director Shaw’s take on Dream fits Shakespeare’s comedy like a glove, and is superbly performed — on opening night the production received a richly deserved standing ovation.

Continues until Sunday, August 8. Tickets 01865 305305 or online at www.oxfordplayhouse.com