A darkened, fog-filled room with two ethereal white sheets and a thick, braided white rope is suspended from the ceiling. A trembling acoustic guitar greets you as you enter the theater, creating an eerie, other-worldly ambiance.
The Dream Project, the newest endeavor by the Yonder Window Theatre Company, seeks to draw parallels between the current political climate and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The text is recited in three different languages (English, Spanish, French), representing the three countries in North America (the U.S, Mexico, Canada), all centered around the play’s conflict between Oberon and Titania. Artists from Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. spent ten days in Mexico collaborating to create an innovative, multilingual take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The most striking element of the performance is the cast’s use of silks. Each of the three fairies can most often be found in mid-air: hovering, undulating, cackling, and meddling at any given moment. They feed off of Titania’s magic, weaving a web of destruction among the mortals wandering the forest floor. Titania herself, amidst strong emotional outbursts, wraps herself up in the silks to demonstrate both power and vulnerability, using it to give orders, as well as to take a nap.
Though it can be tricky to follow all of the finer plot points, the major themes transcend language barriers via the excellent technical skills exhibited by the cast. In between bouts of full on choreography, each actor demonstrates a well-rounded understanding of his or her physicality, allowing the storyline to flow easily. It was an engaging, intelligent, and well-executed performance.
