Actors delight audience in VPA theater production

From the aisle: By AMY MENEREY

Ahhh, love. The desire to be loved. The crazy things people do for love. This is the spirit of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," a romantic fantasy currently being performed by the Valley Performing Arts at the Machetanz Theatre in Wasilla.

Originally written in London around 1595 and set in ancient Greece, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been updated by VPA's artistic director Grant Olson, who placed it in Italy in the 1920s. The story line, however, stayed true to form with plenty of satire, magic and whimsical misunderstandings -- all in the name of love.

This play would be a challenge to any theater group and VPA did a fine job of capturing the essence of the magic, unbridled passion and mischief. As he often did, Shakespeare included a play within a play in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," with a story line that mingles within the two groups -- the original characters and those preparing for the play.

Those unfamiliar with the language may have taken a little longer to absorb the story, but as the second half of the play unfolded Saturday night, the audience, now fully engrossed in the mishap and the double story lines, laughed heartily at Bottom's (Thomas G. Jacobs) reference to "making an ass of himself," and the onstage fight between Helena (Aurora Pease) and Hermia (Kelsey Myrvold) -- a woman scorned and a woman who believed she was the butt of a cruel joke.

The players really won the audience in the final act during the performance by the simple craftsmen. From the moment Craig Sorrie walked onstage as Snug, portraying "the wall" in the play -- with his strategically placed "chink" through which Pyramus (Bottom) and Thisbe (Flute, played by Curtis Shirley) would communicate -- the Machetanz Theatre was filled with laughter. The laughter swelled into waves, however, with Shirley's rendering of Thisbe and Pryamus' attempt to hold Thisbey's hand through the chink -- and between the legs of Sorrie.

Teeland Middle School seventh-grader Hillarie Helen Putnam also gave a wonderful performance as Puck, the misguided servant of Oberon, played by John Simon.

VPA's performance of this fun-filled farce was outstanding and a delight.

The play runs through Feb. 3, Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m., Sunday shows at 2 p.m., all at Machetanz Theatre. Tickets are available at all CARRSTIX outlets, or by calling (800) 478-7328.

Amy Menerey is a page designer and photographer for the Frontiersman.