Under moonlit mischief and a pulsing musical heartbeat, Shakespeare’s classic comedy soars. Where laughter, live music, and theatrical chaos combine to create an unforgettable Midsummer night. Renowned for its romance, pranks, and magical mayhem, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream gets a fresh twist in the Guthrie’s seventh staging. With an enchanting set, lively acting, and a clever directorial vision, this adaptation breathes new life into an esteemed classic.
Led by Joseph Haj’s direction, the production leans hard into comedy, exaggerating the absurdity without losing the rhythm of Shakespeare’s language. The staging is refreshingly minimal, letting the actors and dialogue take center stage. One of the most unexpected choices? Live music. Composer Jack Herrick not only wrote the score but also performed it directly onstage. It gives the play a rich, layered soundscape that shifts in real-time, mirroring the themes of illusion and love. The mix of slapstick humor and musical storytelling keeps things light and, ultimately, fun to watch.
While the staging and musical elements stand out, the cast truly brings the play to life with infectious energy, their performances making the language of Shakespeare feel fresh and accessible. Jimmy Kieffer steals every moment as Puck, bouncing across the stage with impish chaos and amazing vocals, while Remy Auberjonois (Bottom) marks every scene with childish antics, landing some of the performance’s biggest laughs. The quartet of lovers—Royer Bockus (Helena), Justin Withers (Demetrius), Ari Derambakhsh (Hermia), and Jonathan Luke Stevens (Lysander)—turn their tangled relationships into a mess of movement and misunderstandings, making their scenes some of the most entertaining of the play. Yet somehow, they make Shakespeare’s verse feel natural, even modern, without stripping it of richness.
Visually, the production is stunning. The fairy world is a glowing dreamscape of floral textures and floating lanterns, wrapping the stage in a kind of mystical haze. That said, the costumes of the lovers feel jarringly out of place. Their modern, grayscale business-casual outfits clash with the fantastical elements around them. The sterile appearance makes the lovers look like they just stepped out of a corporate meeting and into the middle of a fairytale brawl. It’s a strange contrast to the rest of the show’s colorful aesthetic, not only undermining the enchantment of the fairy world but also making it harder for the audience to fully immerse in the playful absurdity of the story. It’s as though the characters themselves don’t quite belong in the magical chaos unfolding around them—but the lighting and sound design help pull everything back together, not taking you out of the moment.
In the end, Guthrie’s Midsummer lands as a vibrant, inventive take on one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. With standout performances, striking visuals, and a fresh musical twist, it keeps you engaged—and grinning—straight through to the final bow. Whether you’re a seasoned Shakespeare buff or a newcomer to the play, this energetic adaptation is a theatrical experience that’s not to be missed.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs through March 23, 2025, at the Guthrie’s Wurtele Thrust Stage.
This review was awarded first place in the 2025 Journalism Day at the Guthrie event, sponsored by Journalism Educators of Minnesota and the Minnesota High School Press Association. On Wed., Feb. 19, several journalism students from Minnesota high schools toured the theater, learned about arts coverage from a professional theater critic and watched a matinee performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream before writing their own reviews of the production. Honorable mentions were awarded to Daphne Kleinschmit of Columbia Heights High School and Lola Rohl of Minnetonka High School. Minnehaha Academy thanks JEM, MHSPA, the Guthrie Theater and program coordinator Kathryn Campbell for offering students this opportunity.