A Midsummer Night’s DROLL

William Shakespeare/The Owle Schreame Company
The Owle Schreame Company
Gilded Balloon Teviot

A Midsummer Night’s DROLL

This is a “Droll”. We learn the history of this from the performers as an explanation to what is about to happen. There was a time when actors and plays were illegal. The Droll was a way to circumvent this.

A Droll: “the old droll tellers travelled from village to village across Cornwall telling traditional tales and passing on gossip and news from Inn to farmhouse.” (Minack Theatre) This way of storytelling or performing has since vanished.

We get bits and pieces of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. But mostly we get the mechanicals, well suited to this company and the concept of a droll. The costumes, masks and props are roughly fashioned. Directing this must be something akin to herding cats.

There is much music and a lot of horseplay. It’s hard to tell how much of the music and text is original. The Owle Schreame Company seems to work well together although one should check for bruises. The energy never flags. It’s great entertainment for the young and old. What fun

Reviewer: Catherine Henry Lamm

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