July 12, 2014. Saturday. Highland Park Bowl, Rochester. Rochester Community Players' 6th Performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Dramatis Personae: Dad, Agnes, Leah, Abby the faerie, Allison, Paul, me, and my two faeries.
The brilliant trick about this performance, you should know, is the double cast. One cast spoke and acted the lines, traditionally. The other cast were faeries, and they performed in ASL. Each speaking cast member had a faerie, signing double. It. was. brilliant. The front rows were filled with enthusiastic members of Rochester's large deaf community. Bravo, RCP.
In an act of complete and utter lunacy, I brought the children. Intermission was at 9:30, to give you an idea of the extent of my madness. But... they loved it.
We only had to take one break to visit Frederick Douglas' statue to dispel a rowdy fit the kids were having. They soon returned to their seats.
That evening I got to see two new things in my dear old friend Allison's life. Allison, who I have known since 7th grade; Allison, who came with me to
Twelfth Night, same place, last year. First, I saw her brand new house in the South Wedge! Al's a homeowner! I'm so impressed. And, it's a beautiful little place with a porch and walkable to some of the best stuff in that smashing neighborhood.
Second, I met her young man! And I like him quite as much as the house. :-)
Oh, and, to enhance the charm of the evening, the kids dressed as faeries. I rather hoped this might soften peoples' hearts toward my decision to bring two tinies to a 2 hour Shakespeare play.
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| I think it worked. |
The Mechanicals' Play and Bottom in general absolutely STOLE the show, in my opinion.
"Well roared, Lion...
Well run, Thisbe.
Well shone, Moon!"
The end was as charming as this play always is.
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