In The Bard’s original telling, Hermia refuses to follow her father Egeus's instructions for her to marry the man he has chosen, the young suitor Demetrius. Young, rebellious and in love, Hermia and her lover Lysander chose to elope by escaping through the forest at night. Hatching a plan that includes her dearest friend Helena covering for them seems a sure bet, but Helena, recently rejected by Demetrius, feels she will win his love by revealing the young lovers plans. Demetrius, determined to fulfill his desire to have Hermia as his wife, pursues them through the forest whilst being followed by the love lorn Helena.

Set in Camp Shambala, Brian Kennington’s modern day reworking still has a rebellious Hermia, defying her father’s orders to stay away from Paul Lysander, the jealous Richard Demetrius and klutzy best friend, Helen. Add some hyper campers, rambunctious camp councilors, a few delicious subplots including mischievous faeries, a domestic dispute between a king and his queen
and you have The Dream.

In an attempt to make Shakespeare more accessible to the students he was teaching, drama teacher Brian Kennington turned to Three Dog Night for inspiration. A DVD of the band performing with an orchestra became the muse that would help him turn the classic version into a 1970’s rock and roll, fun filled version that students and a theatre loving public would not only love, but learn to appreciate the classic tale on a whole new level.

Clever dialogue, tight choreography and a kick ass score, featuring Three Dog Night’ Shambala, Midnight Runaway, An Old Fashioned Love Song and Let Me Serenade You, have audience members singing along, with the entire audience singing and clapping during the closing song Celebrate.

Cast members Blair Kay, as best friend Helen and Steven Gallagher as the mischievous Puck, shine throughout the evening, but the brightest moments of The Dream are the hilarious group of camp councilors and their on going antics. Starvling, Snout, Flute, Snug and Bottom are played with perfectly timed slapstick. The highlight being the attempt at their own production of The Lord of the Rings.

While having an authentic Fringe Festival feel, this production has places to go. Loaded with campy humour, interjections of modern lingo, rock and roll, and the forward thinking direction of Brian Kennington, The Dream is not only an entertaining two hours but a brilliant way to see Shakespeare in a brand new light.