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A Midsummer Night’s Dream




What better time than the close of summer to perform Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. And what better place than the John Hinkel Park Amphitheater in the hills of Berkeley. In this natural beauty, blooming relationships of young lovers become jumbled as they encounter a forest full of fairies led by the bickering King Oberon and Queen Titania of the fairies, played by Arcady Eugene and Cynthia Lagodzinski respectively.

Puck, talented Linda Maria Girón, leads the merry band of prankster fairies through the forest with music and story-telling.

In their fairydust-addled state, four lovers, AnneJelika Ong Cortez as Hermia, Nic Moore as Lysander, Parker Soughers as Demetrius, and Tina Traboulsi as Helena, pursue each other through the forest with hysterical physical antics. Tina Traboulsi’s Helena is so besotted by Demetrius she attaches herself to his legs as he drags her across the forest floor.

Bottom, delightfully played by Bruce Kaplan, is the perfect fool. His overblown idea of his own talent makes his metamorphosis into an ass, complete with braying voice, believable. In the play-within-the-play, a staging of Pyramus and Thisbe’s romance, Kaplan is a stand out. The slap stick death scenes are particularly hilarious.
Bruce Kaplan and Cynthia Lagodzinski
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the perfect close to summer and a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare for kids. Come early to get a seat and have a picnic. The play, put on by Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is free! But as we all know, there is no free lunch. A lot of love and effort goes into these productions. So, when these wonderful entertainers pass the hat, be generous.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare, directed by Michael R. Cohen, costumes by Lyre Alston, set by Kirsten Yamaguchi, properties by Susan Dunn, music director and Ukelele, Linda Maria Girón, fight choreography, Nic Moore, and Keyboards, Keith Jefferds. At John Hinkel Park Amphitheater, Berkeley – Saturdays & Sundays plus Labor Day to September 7, 2026

Info: https://www.aeofberkeley.org

Cast: Carolyn Ford Compton, AnneJelika Ong Cortez, Brezzy/Desilva, Arcady Eugene, Linda Maria Girón, Keith Jefferds, Bruce Kaplan, Cynthia Lagodzinski, Avery b, Sarah Mooney, Nic Moore, Eshani More, Mars Ohayon, Parker Soughers, Kim Saunders, Tina Traboulsi, and Comet Ziemer.

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