"Theater in Düsseldorf Stages 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'"
In the heart of Düsseldorf, a unique adaptation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream is currently enchanting audiences. This production, set in a fairground, features a vibrant blend of clowning elements and a fairground setting, under the direction of Ukrainian director Stas Zhyrkov.
The fairground atmosphere is brought to life with a glittering booth called "The Enchanted Forest," a children's carousel, and a "Tunnel of Love." The old Athens is depicted as a "renovation" booth nestled beside these attractions. The troupe of Athenian craftsmen perform at the Duke's wedding as hyperactive, curiously masked clowns, adding a whimsical touch to the traditional play.
The characters in this adaptation are dressed in an unconventional manner. The teenagers in the play wear pink outfits and blonde wigs, creating an air of uniformity and interchangeability. The enchanted forest scene includes a surprising twist: Oberon's wife, Titania, falls in love with a man with a donkey's head.
Pauline Kaestner plays the elf queen Titania in the production, while Jonas Friedrich Leonhardi takes on the roles of both Oberon and Theseus. Sophie Stockinger plays Puck with a hand puppet, adding a touch of magic to the performance.
Helena, played by Blanka Winkler, expresses reluctance towards her role in the plot, while Alexander Wanat, who stepped in after Kilian Ponert was injured during rehearsals, plays the chief jester, Zettel.
The confusion of feelings among the characters, due to magical influences in the nearby forest, is a central theme of the production. The performances, which last approximately two and a half hours with an intermission, are being held in front of the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus until the end of the season.
Despite extensive online searches, there is no direct information about reviews or detailed announcements of this adaptation. However, if you are interested in catching this unique interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, tickets are available for several dates in June and July. Evening performances start at 7 PM, and family performances start at 4 PM. Some dates in May and early June are already sold out, but tickets are still available for June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, and 27, as well as July 3, 4, and 5.
This unique adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is enchanting audiences in Düsseldorf with an entertaining twist, featuring a lively fairground atmosphere and a troupe of clowns. The enchantment continues with characters dressed unconventionally, including Titania played by Pauline Kaestner, who is seen in pink outfits and blonde wigs. The unexpected love between Titania and a man with a donkey's head adds another layer of entertainment to the production.
